China, ROK agree to strengthen coordination on Korean Peninsula issue

China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday agreedto strengthen communication and cooperation and jointly play a constructive role in realizing denuclearization and lasting peace of the Korean Peninsula.

The consensus was reached during the phone call between Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese government's special representative on Korean Peninsula affairs, and Noh Kyu-duk, the ROK's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs.

China firmly supports the improvement of the south-north relations and advancing the peace process of the Korean Peninsula, Liu said, stressing political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Noh said the ROK is willing to work with China to jointly play a constructive role in the Korean Peninsula issue.

The communication came after

the visit of Sung Kim to Seoul

last week, the newly appointed U.S. special representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) policy.

Liu

assumed his new post

as the Chinese government's special representative on Korean Peninsula affairs in April with the duties to assist the foreign ministry in coordinating the handling of affairs involving the peninsula.

(Cover: Republic of Korea soldiers stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. /Reuters)