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A screenshot of the Sept. 7 edition of the China Daily
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China Daily describes agreement as “grounds for renewed optimism”
Chinese state-run media have welcomed the agreement reached during a South Korean special delegation’s visit to North Korea to hold an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang from Sept. 18 to 20, describing this as “grounds for renewed optimism.” State-run newspaper the China Daily put considerable stress on the development in an editorial on Sept. 7: “It is always good to hear Pyongyang vow to denuclearize. Even better when it comes with a timeline. Both happened on Wednesday, when an envoy of Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in met with Kim Jong-un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.” Referring to US President Donald Trump’s cancellation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s planned fourth trip to Pyongyang and Trump’s complaints about China’s lack of cooperation, the editorial said that Trump “dented the optimism that had followed his meeting with Kim in Singapore.” But South and North Korea’s agreement to discuss “practical measures” toward denuclearization during their upcoming summit and the special delegation’s role as message bearer between Kim and Trump has given the newspaper “grounds for renewed optimism.” North Korea’s shutdown of nuclear and missile engine test sites “not unconditional” But the editorial cautioned that “this in no way means denuclearization will be a smooth and rapid process” and noted that North Korea’s demolition of its nuclear test site at Punggye Village and its shutdown of operations at a missile engine test site at Tongchang Village were “not unconditional.” “Pyongyang wants an official end to the 1951-53 Korean War,” the editorial said, calling on the Americans to take “corresponding measures.” The Chinese government offered a positive assessment of progress in inter-Korean dialogue. “As a close neighbor to the Korean Peninsula, China always welcomes and supports the efforts made by the DPRK and the ROK, which are parties directly concerned to the Korean Peninsula issue, to maintain dialogue and contact,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said during the regular press briefing on Sept. 6 when asked about the special delegation’s visit to North Korea. “We hope that the DPRK-ROK summit in Pyongyang can be held smoothly and achieve positive outcomes [. . .]. The Chinese side is willing to continue with its positive and constructive role in this regard.” Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People's Congress and the third most powerful figure in the Communist Party of China, is planning to attend an event in Pyongyang on Sept. 9 celebrating the establishment of the North Korean government in the capacity of a special envoy from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ri is expected meet with Kim and exchange opinions about denuclearization. By Kim Oi-hyun, Beijing correspondent Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
