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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will be denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, China confirmed Wednesday after a meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing this weekend.
The three-day visit served to renew the bilateral relations which have soured over the last years as North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons led to China-backed sanctions from the United Nations.
"The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace," Kim said, according to Xinhua.
The trip was Kim’s first known journey abroad since he assumed power in 2011 and is believed by analysts to serve as preparation for upcoming summits with South Korea and the United States.
Xinhua cited Kim informing Xi that the situation on the Korean peninsula is starting to improve because North Korea has taken the initiative to ease tensions and put forward proposals for peace talks.
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“It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il,” Kim Jong Un said, according to Xinhua.
China briefed Trump on Kim’s visit and the communication included a personal message from Xi to Trump, the White House said in a statement.
The United States maintains good relations with both of its allies, South Korea and Japan, the document outlined, adding that the meeting serves as further evidence of the U.S. “campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea.”
Among the tactics exercised by the U.S. are a series of sanctions and aggressive, at times childish, threats from U.S. President Donald Trump which have been strongly condemned by the international community.
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