BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with a senior North Korean official in Beijing on Monday (Dec 18), coinciding with Pyongyang’s launch of a missile capable of reaching anywhere in the United States.
China always views its ties with North Korea from a strategic and long-term perspective, the foreign ministry said in a statement, citing Wang’s comments in the meeting with North Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Myong Ho.
Beijing is willing to strengthen two-way communication and coordination while deepening exchanges and cooperation, Wang added.
Wang and Pak exchanged views on issues of “common concern”, on which the ministry did not elaborate.
The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere, Pyongyang’s state media KCNA said, North Korea’s ambassador to China Ri Ryong-nam was also present.
North Korea is officially China’s only ally. Both are bound by a treaty signed in 1961 to take all necessary measures, including military assistance, to help each other in the event of an attack or an attempted attack by a third country.
North Korea’s Monday missile launch came after the firing of a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday night.
Source: CNA
