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Seoul Sees Possible NK-US Dialogue Talks During Kim's China Trip
South Korea's FM suggested North Korea and China may have discussed resuming Pyongyang-Washington engagement during Kim Jong-un's October visit to Dandong.
What happened
South Korean 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 Kim Jong-un's surprise visit to China's border city of Dandong on October 24. Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit, responding to a lawmaker's question about whether such discussions may have taken place. Citing the presence in Dandong of Ma Zhaoxu, China's executive vice foreign minister and a diplomat with extensive experience in U.S. affairs, Cho said "I believe that is a possibility."
Kim Jong-un's one-day trip involved meeting Wang Huning, China's fourth-highest-ranking official, and touring a war memorial ahead of China's anniversary of its entry into the Korean War. Cho acknowledged it was "too early to draw a definitive conclusion," but expressed optimism that a North Korea-U.S. summit could serve as a catalyst for breaking diplomatic impasse. South Korea has been actively seeking to facilitate talks, with Cho stating Seoul would work closely with China and Russia to bring North Korea to the negotiating table. Trump has previously expressed interest in meeting with Kim, though Pyongyang has not formally responded to such overtures.
Chanakya's Move
China's move here is subtle but deliberate. By hosting Kim and positioning Ma Zhaoxu—a high-level diplomat—at the meeting, Beijing signals it can broker talks between Washington and Pyongyang. This enhances China's strategic value to both sides while allowing it to shape the agenda around denuclearization and regional stability on Beijing's terms. For Trump, it suggests a back-channel remains open. For Seoul, it highlights South Korea's continued dependence on Beijing and Washington to advance peninsular diplomacy—a position Cho is working to reframe by positioning Seoul as a "pacemaker." The risk to China: if talks succeed without Beijing getting substantial concessions, or if they collapse, Beijing loses credibility.