Kim Jong-un and Woo Won-sik to Meet at China's Victory Day... Xi Jinping to Mediate Between North and South
- Input
- 2025-08-31 11:57:51
- Updated
- 2025-08-31 11:57:51
Leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia will sit together centered around Xi Jinping, the President of China, at the Victory Day event. There is interest in whether Speaker Woo will be placed near the North Korea-China-Russia leaders.
According to diplomatic sources on the 31st, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs might try to place Chairman Kim and Speaker Woo as close as possible at the Victory Day parade. However, it is uncertain whether North Korea will actively engage in such Chinese mediation efforts.
Jung Sung-jang, Deputy Director of the Sejong Institute, predicted, "China may place Chairman Kim and Speaker Woo as close as possible at the request of our government, but North Korea might want to distance itself." He added, "China will create a movement path so that Chairman Kim and Speaker Woo can face each other."
According to TASS, President Putin will sit to the right of President Xi during the Victory Day parade, and Chairman Kim will be positioned to the left of President Xi. For Speaker Woo to be placed near Chairman Kim, he must be seated to the left of President Xi. Speaker Woo might be seated directly behind Chairman Kim.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its intention to actively intervene in mediation between the North and South.
Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at the 80th anniversary Victory Day press conference on the 29th, "China is actively contributing its wisdom and capabilities for the political resolution of regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula." Vice Minister Ma stated, "China has always placed neighboring countries in the most important position of its overall diplomatic landscape and has been striving to promote peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region."
Previously, during a meeting with Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on the 24th, the presidential special envoy to China captured this stance. The presidential special envoy stated, "While the new government firmly responds to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations, it seeks to resume dialogue and exchanges between the North and South through measures to ease military tensions and build trust, opening the path to peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," requesting China's continued role in Korean Peninsula peace. In response, Minister Wang stated, "China's stance on the Korean Peninsula issue remains unchanged," expressing hope to cooperate with South Korea's new government for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The presidential office believes that Chairman Kim and Speaker Woo might exchange greetings. Woo Sang-ho, Chief Political Secretary of the Presidential Office, stated on the 28th, "Chairman Kim will not pretend not to know," he said. Chief Secretary Woo stated, "Speaker Woo and Chairman Kim know each other well, having shared a drink during the 2018 inter-Korean summit," he said. He mentioned, "Speaker Woo's family still lives in North Korea, and there was a family reunion at Mount Kumgang, which is a special relationship," adding, "It would be good if they meet."
However, the presidential office believes that an inter-Korean meeting is difficult. Chief Secretary Woo stated, "North Korea absolutely does not allow such protocols," adding, "Perhaps they might exchange a brief handshake at a reception," he speculated. Speaker Woo met Chairman Kim during the welcoming dinner at the 2018 inter-Korean summit when he was the floor leader of the Democratic Party.
Speaker Woo met Chairman Kim at that time and said, "My father's hometown is Hwanghae Province, and my two sisters live there. My mother is 102 years old and waiting to see her sisters," adding, "My wife is from Dancheon, Hamgyong Province, and there is the pain of separated families."
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter