Park made the comments during a meeting with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN conference in Jakarta, where Park “strongly disapproved” of the North Korean launch.
Seoul and Beijing share the same position on North Korea, and both want an end to provocations and a return to dialogue. “Minister Park stressed that it is more important than ever for China to play a constructive role in bringing peace and stability to the Korean peninsula,” the South Korean ministry said in a statement.
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The United Nations Security Council has been grappling with the issue for several years and still appears divided in its approach to Pyongyang. China and Russia have both said the new sanctions won’t help, prompting Washington to accuse Russia and China of “protecting North Korea”.
Moreover, the relationship between China and South Korea has grown since the Chinese ambassador last month warned South Korea not to “make the wrong choice” when it comes to the Sino-US rivalry.