Putin-Kim meeting constructive to Korean Peninsula

Source
Global Times
Editor
Chen Zhuo
Time
2019-04-26 09:47:23

During his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday in Vladivostok, Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin supported reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He said there is a long road ahead to improve economic ties between the two countries.

The meeting had implications not only in terms of Russia-North Korea relations, but for a way out of the Korean Peninsula issue. The meeting was conducive to balancing the international forces surrounding the issue.

Russia props up denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Moscow never actually took advantage of the issue to seek geopolitical interests, as Washington and Seoul once thought it would.

We don't yet know what Putin and Kim actually talked about, but their conversation must have been based on Moscow's consistent stance and Pyongyang's stated position since 2018.

Amid the stalemate of US-North Korea talks, the Putin-Kim summit could help broaden ideas on how to mitigate the situation on the Korean Peninsula. As one of the three neighboring countries to North Korea and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia should play a greater role in the issue.

The two countries' legitimate rights of normal cooperation should be respected. If North Korea wants to practice opening-up, it will certainly open its door first to its neighbors.

It is worth noting that right after the meeting with Kim, Putin took a flight to Beijing to participate in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

It is possible that a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin will take place during the forum, where the two leaders could talk about the Korean Peninsula issue.

The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination obviously includes political coordination and cooperation on the issue. Generally, the two countries are likely to hold a similar stance.

In less than two years, great progress has been made on the Korean Peninsula issue with the goal of denuclearization confirmed by Pyongyang and other parties involved.

However, the mutual distrust between the US and North Korea has been a knot in the way of reaching an agreement.

Trust cannot be established from nothing, it needs effective assistance from the international community. Hence, China and Russia can and should act as a "credit guarantor" to help gain mutual trust between the US and North Korea.

At a press conference following his meeting with Kim, Putin said that to achieve denuclearization and disarmament, safeguarding North Korea's security through international law is needed, hence the Six-Party Talks should resume.

Putin's proposal fits well with the current situation, and we believe China will react positively. The US, South Korea and Japan should also consider this move.

Pyongyang has stopped nuclear tests and strategic missile tests while Washington and Seoul have hung up their joint military drills aiming at Pyongyang.

North Korea has also promised to denuclearize. All these points have led the Korean Peninsula to a new situation.

Such being the case, the international community should partly reduce sanctions against Pyongyang as encouragement, and Beijing and Moscow should lend a hand to push for that.

North Korea's determination to concentrate on building its economy should be backed. It is unwise for Washington to block Pyongyang's plan as it has been proved that Washington is not able to get what it wants through suppression.

As a pro-peace power, Russia could inject more rationality in the issue. Overwhelmed by the US' stance, South Korea hasn't done enough to help the US and North Korea get closer.

Strengthened communication between China, Russia and North Korea is conducive to maintaining the current peaceful situation on the Korean Peninsula and for promoting further talks on North Korea's denuclearization. Thus, it should be supported.

Related News

Continue...