SOUTH Korea has encouraged North Korea to present a plan with concrete steps towards denuclearisation, raising the pressure on its leader Kim Jong Un as he met with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
South Korean president Moon Jae-in urged North Korea to present actionable plans on how it will scrap its nuclear programme, and for the United States to swiftly take unspecified corresponding measures.
“It’s necessary for North Korea to present far more concrete denuclearisation plans, and I think it’s necessary for the United States to swiftly reciprocate by coming up with comprehensive measures,” Moon said.
Moon’s office said he made the remarks to Russian media ahead of his trip to Moscow later this week.
Moon, who has met with Kim twice in recent months, said the North Korean leader is willing to give up his nuclear programme and focus on economic development if he is provided with a reliable security guarantee.
The South Korean leader described Kim as forthright, careful and polite.
The comments come as Kim holds a second day of talks with Chinese leader Xi in Beijing.
Chinese state media quoted Xi as hailing the warming friendship with Kim but included no mention of any specific discussions on making progress on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
Xi said China is pleased that “the momentum for dialogue and easing of the situation on the Korean peninsula has been effectively strengthened”, according to Xinhua.
China backs the North’s call for a “phased and synchronous” approach to denuclearisation, as opposed to Washington’s demand for an instant, total and irreversible end to the North’s nuclear programmes.
At his summit with US president Donald Trump last week in Singapore, Kim pledged to work towards a nuclear deal in exchange for US security guarantees.
The US and South Korea also suspended a major joint military exercise that was planned for August in what was seen as a major victory for North Korea and its chief allies, China and Russia.
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