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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| S. Korea, China open consultations over Cheonan |
| 2010-05-01 |
| SHANGHAI, April 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese President Hu Jintao had "serious discussions" Friday on last month's deadly sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, which officials said laid the groundwork for cooperation for on a joint response to the tragedy as suspicions grow against North Korea. "I offer condolences and consolation to the victims of the Cheonan and their families," Hu said in his summit with President Lee Myung-bak in Shanghai. It was the first time that the Chinese leader has commented publicly on the March 26 incident that occurred near the inter-Korean sea border. He made the remarks during the first several minutes that were opened to the press. South Korea's presidential officials said the Cheonan issue was one of the main agenda in the closed-door summit that lasted about half an hour, along with Seoul-Beijing bilateral relations such as ways to lower trade barriers and further develop their "strategic cooperative partnership." "The two leaders had serious discussions on the Cheonan incident," Lee Dong-kwan, senior secretary for public affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, told reporters. "Today's South Korea-China summit was the (fastening of the) first button for formal consultations (between the two sides on the matter)." Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Premier Wen Jiabao are scheduled to visit South Korea next month for separate meetings also involving Japan, he pointed out. The Chinese leader also noted South Korea's "scientific and objective" investigation into the case that is still underway, the secretary added. The South Korean president told Hu that "all of South Korea's 50 million people take the incident seriously," briefing him on the results of a preliminary probe that indicate the 1,200-ton patrol ship was broken in half and sank from a "non-contact" explosion. The secretary said the president deliberately used the expression of "50 million people" to underscore the depth of the nation's sadness and furor over the naval tragedy. Forty-six of the 104 sailors aboard the Cheonan were killed. "President Lee promised to first inform China of the results of the investigation once it is completed and appealed for its interest and cooperation," the secretary said. China's approach toward the naval disaster is being closely monitored as suspicions grow that North Korea may be behind it. Seoul is tasked with coordinating a response with Beijing, Pyongyang's foremost ally and benefactor. South Korea's Navy Chief of Staff Kim Sung-chan said in a funeral for the fallen sailors Thursday that Seoul "cannot and must not forgive or forget" those responsible for Cheonan's sinking, remarks interpreted as a vow of retribution. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 As per the CHEONAN, SOUTH KOREA > is repor insisting to Beijing that CHINA make NORTH KOREA = KIMMIE realize that ANY CHIN-LED MIL DEFENSE + GUARANTY, ETC, AGZ EXTRNAL ATTACK is NOT = NO LONGER A NORTH KOREAN NATURAL BIRTHRIGHT. * WMF > SOUTH KOREA: FAILURE BY CHINA TO PUNISH NORTH KOREA ON THE CHEONAN ATTACK, SINKING MAY DAMAGE/PUNISH BEIJING-SEOUL RELATIONS FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS. * SAME > CHINA HAS BEEN BETRAYED BY PYONGYANG'S ORDERED ATTACK ON THE SOUTH KOREAN NAVAL SHIP CHEONAN. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-05-01 00:13 |