On May 9, Dr. Jung Pak, the Senior Official for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), held a meeting with Liu Xiaoming, the Special Representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The meeting took place in Tokyo.
During their discussion, Pak highlighted the ongoing threat to regional and global security due to DPRK's unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. She also pointed out DPRK's provocative and irresponsible rhetoric towards its neighbors. Pak expressed concern about the increasing military cooperation between DPRK and Russia, including unlawful arms transfers. She also noted that Russia's veto of a UN Security Council resolution to extend the mandate of the UN 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts would obstruct international efforts to implement previous UN Security Council resolutions.
Pak emphasized U.S.'s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy with DPRK as the only viable means of achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, she voiced continued U.S. concerns regarding the forcible repatriation of North Koreans, including asylum seekers, back to DPRK. She urged Beijing to uphold its non-refoulement obligations.
This meeting came after Secretary Blinken’s visit to PRC from April 24-26 during which he underscored U.S.'s commitment to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and stressed on maintaining open lines of communication with PRC.
