South Korea used high-level diplomatic talks with China this week to urge Beijing to help restart dialogue with North Korea, though the Chinese side did not mention related discussions in its readout.

According to Seoul’s foreign ministry, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo raised the issue during a meeting with Chinese counterpart Ma Zhaoxu at the 11th China-South Korea Senior-Level Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Dec. 18. 

“Vice Minister Park explained the policy direction of the Korean government for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and called for the Chinese side to play a role in creating conditions