S. Korea-China Summit Draws Mixed Response From Parties
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published December 15, 2017 | 12:35 PM
Political parties on Friday gave mixed reactions to the outcome of the summit between South Korea and China which underscored the two countries' pursuit of a peaceful solution to the standoff with North Korea over its nuclear program
SEOUL,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2017 ) :Political parties on Friday gave mixed reactions to the outcome of the summit between South Korea and China which underscored the two countries' pursuit of a peaceful solution to the standoff with North Korea over its nuclear program.
During their talks in Beijing, Presidents Moon Jae-in and Xi Jinping agreed on "four principles" in handling Pyongyang's threat: no tolerance for war, a firm resolve to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, resolution of the situation through dialogue and negotiations, and the view that improved inter-Korean ties will help address issues surrounding the peninsula.
The ruling Democratic Party welcomed the agreement, voicing hopes for an improvement in South Korea-China ties, which have been strained over the installation of a U.S. missile defense system that Beijing says could undermine its security interests.
"We hail the agreement on the four principles for the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula issues, and in particular, we honor the fact that the two sides decided to maintain close communication by establishing a direct hotline (between the leaders)," Kim Hyun, the party's spokeswoman, said in her commentary.
"We expect that the bilateral agreement will help activate exchanges in all areas, including politics, economy, diplomacy, culture and people-to-people exchanges," she added.
Opposition parties played down the significance of the summit agreement and took issue with the fact that the two leaders neither held a joint press conference nor issued a joint declaration following their meeting.
"When the North may already have nuclear arms, their mention of the principle of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, after all, amounts to pardoning the North for its possession of nuclear arms," said Chang Je-won, the spokesman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party.
The summit was overshadowed by an assault case in which two South Korean photojournalists accompanying Moon were beaten and injured by Chinese security personnel. Opposition parties called the incident a "major fiasco" and noted that the South Korean leader was not properly treated during this state visit, given that he was greeted by a relatively low-level Beijing official on the tarmac Wednesday.
Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People's Party, said that the assault case "bruised the pride" of South Koreans. He called on Moon to hold Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Ambassador to China Noh Young-min responsible for the case.
"How can a government that allows journalists to be assaulted protect its citizens " Ahn asked during a meeting with party seniors. "It has to squarely face the fact that citizens' pride has been bruised by the case."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Journalists call for global action to end Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
CM for generating opportunities to bring direct int'l investment
Pakistan retains position in FTSE secondary emerging market
High Commissioner of Malaysia hosts Iftar dinner reception
NEPRA announces 2nd quarterly adjustment in power bills with Rs 1.68 cut per uni ..
Hoopo Inc. Collaborates with SAU to Install Solar-Powered RO Plant
04 killed in Spain as Storm Nelson looms
Russian military jet crashes into sea off Crimea: Governor
Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm likely at various parts of country
Implementation of Sindh Agriculture Workers Act-2019 demanded
Pandemic accord talks heading for extra time
Khawaja reiterates PM commitment to judiciary
More Stories From World
-
Bus plunges off S.Africa bridge killing 45: ministry
4 hours ago -
S.Africa's ex-president Zuma barred from May election
5 hours ago -
Tax the rich: slow progress on the international front
5 hours ago -
Bus plunges off S.Africa bridge killing 45: ministry
5 hours ago -
Russia sentences journalist to 2 years in prison, detains others
5 hours ago -
France asks for foreign help for Olympics security: officials
6 hours ago
-
04 killed in Spain as Storm Nelson looms
6 hours ago -
Russian military jet crashes into sea off Crimea: Governor
6 hours ago -
Pandemic accord talks heading for extra time
6 hours ago -
French parliament backs bill against hair discrimination affecting black women
6 hours ago -
Russia says 'evidence' links Ukraine to Moscow attack
6 hours ago -
Russian shelling kills three in Ukraine, officials say
6 hours ago