Defense Minister Kang Shinchul Meets Chinese Ambassador: "Rising Tensions on Korean Peninsula Are Not in China's Interests Either"

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul met with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing and called on China to play an active role in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He also conveyed concerns about Chinese activities in the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) and over the West Sea, emphasizing the importance of close communication between the two countries.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the Ministry of National Defense on October 20, Kang met with Ambassador Dai that afternoon at the ministry's headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and exchanged views on South Korea-China defense exchanges and cooperation, as well as the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Kang stressed that escalating tensions related to the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula were not in China's interests either. He urged the Chinese government to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

His remarks are understood to have been made with the recent rise in tensions between the two Koreas in mind, as North Korea has been carrying out what it calls "fortification of the border" around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). There has also been an incident in which South Korean servicemembers were injured by land mines North Korea had planted south of the MDL.

Kang also conveyed the South Korean government's position on Chinese activities in the KADIZ and over the West Sea. In particular, he stressed the need for close communication to prevent military tensions and accidental clashes between the two countries.

An air defense identification zone is an area designated to identify and respond early to military aircraft approaching a country's airspace. It is international practice for military aircraft entering another country's air defense identification zone to submit flight plans in advance and report their location upon entry. China and Russia, however, have sent military aircraft into the KADIZ once or twice a year for reasons including joint exercises without giving prior notice.

Kang said relations between South Korea and China had steadily developed since the establishment of diplomatic ties and called on China to support expanding defense exchanges and cooperation based on good-neighborly friendship and mutual trust. Ambassador Dai expressed hope that the two countries would further promote dialogue and communication in the fields of diplomacy and security.

Ambassador Dai congratulated Kang on his appointment and said he hoped exchanges and cooperation would also expand in the defense sector, as relations between the two countries continued to develop, including through recent reciprocal visits by their leaders within a short period.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.