S. Korea sees possibility of N. Korea-U.S. dialogue discussions during Kim Jong-un's China visit

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SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he sees the possibility that North Korea and China discussed the resumption of dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington during the North's leader Kim Jong-un's surprise visit to China's border city of Dandong last week.

Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign and unification ministries, responding to Rep. Kwon Young-se's question about whether discussions on North Korea-U.S. dialogue may have taken place during Kim's visit.

"I believe that is a possibility," Cho said.

Kwon of the main opposition People Power Party cited the presence in Dandong of Ma Zhaoxu, China's executive vice foreign minister, who is regarded as a Chinese diplomat with extensive experience in U.S. affairs.

Asked whether Kim's failure to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, unlike on previous occasions ahead of potential North Korea-U.S. talks, could carry broader implications, Cho said it was "too early to draw a definitive conclusion and that various factors needed to be considered."

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (R) and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young attend a parliamentary audit in Seoul on Oct. 27, 2026. (Yonhap)

Kim made a one-day visit to Dandong on Saturday, meeting Wang Huning, China's top political adviser, and visiting a war memorial and a bus factory amid Pyongyang and Beijing's efforts to deepen ties.

The visit came ahead of a planned Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen next month, which U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend. Trump has expressed interest in resuming dialogue with Kim.

Cho said Seoul has been consulting with Washington and other relevant parties to help facilitate dialogue between North Korea and the United States and ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"First of all, I think a North Korea-U.S. summit could serve as a catalyst for breaking the current impasse," Cho said.

"Building on such a summit, we will seek to play the role of a 'pacemaker' to help the United States become a 'peacemaker,' in line with President Lee Jae Myung's stated approach," he added.

Cho also said Seoul would work closely with China, Russia to help bring North Korea to the negotiating table.

graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)

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S. Korea sees possibility of N. Korea-U.S. dialogue discussions during Kim Jong-un's China visit

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，10月27日（韩联社）——韩国外交部长赵显铉周二表示，他认为朝鲜领导人金正恩上周突访中国边境城市丹东期间，朝鲜和中国有可能讨论了恢复平壤与华盛顿之间对话的问题。

赵承熙是在国会审查外交部和统一部时发表上述言论的，当时议员权英世询问金正恩访问期间是否可能就朝美对话进行了讨论。

“我认为这是有可能的，”赵说。

主要反对党人民力量党的权建国指出，中国外交部常务副部长马朝旭在丹东，他被认为是一位在处理美国事务方面经验丰富的中国外交官。

当被问及金正恩未能像以往在朝美潜在会谈前那样与中国国家主席习近平会面，是否会产生更广泛的影响时，赵表示“现在下定论还为时过早，需要考虑各种因素”。

2026年10月27日，外交部长赵显铉（右）和统一部长官郑东荣在首尔出席国会审计。（韩联社）

周六，金正恩对丹东进行了为期一天的访问，会见了中国最高政治顾问王沪宁，并参观了战争纪念碑和一家公交车厂。此次访问正值平壤和北京努力深化关系之际。

此次访问正值亚太经合组织（APEC）峰会召开前夕，该峰会计划于下月在深圳举行，美国总统特朗普预计将出席。特朗普曾表示有意与金正恩恢复对话。

赵表示，首尔一直在与华盛顿和其他相关方面进行磋商，以帮助促进朝鲜和美国之间的对话，并缓解朝鲜半岛的紧张局势。

“首先，我认为朝美峰会可以成为打破当前僵局的催化剂，”赵说。

“我们将以这次峰会为基础，努力发挥‘领跑者’的作用，帮助美国成为‘和平缔造者’，这与李在明总统明确表态的方针一致，”他补充道。

赵也表示，首尔将与中国、俄罗斯密切合作，帮助促使朝鲜回到谈判桌前。

graceoh@yna.co.kr (完)

赵立坚外长本周将访问美国，出席二十国集团外长会议

（新闻焦点）美国中期选举后，特朗普的朝鲜政策下一步将走向何方？专家评估美韩同盟摩擦和朝鲜外交。

（导语）朝鲜领导人突访丹东，誓言推进中朝关系

（第五条）朝鲜领导人金正恩访问中国，会见高级官员，推动两国关系发展

韩国认为金正恩访华期间，朝美之间有可能举行对话会谈。