South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held his first phone call with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Feb. 6, following his inauguration. The call lasted for 50 minutes. During the conversation, Cho conveyed concerns regarding the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors, both domestically and internationally. He requested China’s cooperation to allow defectors to choose their destinations without facing forced repatriation. It is unusual for such matters to be discussed during a courtesy call, marking a departure from typical diplomatic protocol.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cho emphasized to Wang the significance of minimizing sources of conflict and building upon cooperative achievements to foster sustainable qualitative growth based on trust between South Korea and China. Regarding the yet-to-be-scheduled trilateral summit involving South Korea, Japan, and China, Cho proposed advancing follow-up discussions. Wang expressed support for South Korea’s hosting efforts for the summit in response, the ministry said.
Both sides also discussed recent provocations by North Korea. Cho expressed concerns about North Korea’s ongoing development of nuclear and missile capabilities, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, as well as its continued military cooperation with Russia. He then urged Wang to enhance China’s constructive role in encouraging North Korea to halt further provocations and pursue denuclearization.
In a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang described the relationship between South Korea and China as that of “important neighbors and cooperation partners.” He also expressed hope for South Korea to “actively, objectively, and cordially pursue a China policy, adhere to the ‘One China Principle,’ and return bilateral relations to a healthy and stable development track.” Regarding recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, Wang mentioned, “There are reasons for the current tension,” and emphasized, “All countries should maintain composure, exercise restraint, avoid escalating tensions, and resolve their respective concerns through dialogue.”
The phone call between South Korean and Chinese foreign ministers took place 27 days after Cho’s appointment. Cho had also spoken with the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia, and Vietnam since assuming office.
