South Korean representative shakes hands with Kim Jong-un at a gathering in Beijing
South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Meets Key Leaders in China
South Korea's National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-shik, recently embarked on a trip to Beijing, where he focused on discussions regarding future relations between South Korea and China.
Woo was seated at the far end on Xi Jinping's right during the military parade, making any interaction during the ceremony difficult. However, he had the opportunity to meet with both Xi and Putin during a luncheon hosted by the Chinese government following the parade.
Woo expressed his intent to contribute to establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and responded to Putin's question about inter-Korean ties and the upcoming summit by expressing hope for an era of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. He also asked Putin to pay attention to the more than 130 South Korean companies currently operating in Russia.
During the meetings, Woo invited Xi to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit scheduled for late October in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The meetings with Xi and Putin will likely cover China's economy, science, technology, and strategic industries.
Woo, as Seoul's official representative, is also scheduled to meet with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. The meeting with Zhao Leji and Ding Xuexiang is expected to discuss further details on China's economy, science, technology, and strategic industries.
Accompanying Woo on his trip were Reps. Park Jie-won, Kim Tae-nyeon, Park Jeung, Hong Kee-won, and Kim Joon-hyung. Notably, Kim Joon-hyung is a member of the minor progressive Rebuilding Korea Party.
During the parade, Woo and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were seated far apart on the Tiananmen Gate Tower. No new information about Woo's meeting with Kim Jong-un or the parade seating arrangement was provided in this paragraph.
Woo and Kim had not met in seven years, as per Woo's statement, since the 2018 inter-Korean summit. The details of their meeting during the parade remain unclear. Woo belongs to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and holds the position of South Korea's second-highest-ranking official under diplomatic protocol.
After the trip, Woo is set to return to Seoul the same day. The visit marks a significant step in strengthening the relations between South Korea and China, and it is hoped that the discussions will lead to a more peaceful and prosperous future for the Korean Peninsula.
