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WORLD NEWS Friday 6 december 2019
Moon calls for Chinese role in denuclearizing North Korea

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Minister Kang Kyung-wha
Associated Press and discussed issues re-
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) lated to North Korea and
— South Korean President details of a trilateral sum-
Moon Jae-in said Thurs- mit between Seoul, Beijing
day the global diplomatic and Tokyo planned later
push to defuse the nuclear this month in China. They
standoff with North Korea also discussed facilitating
is at a “critical crossroads” high-level exchanges and
and called for China to arranging a possible visit
continue serving a “posi- to South Korea by Chinese
tive role” in denuclearizing President Xi Jinping next
the Korean Peninsula and year, South Korea’s Foreign
stabilizing peace. Ministry said.
Moon made the com- His visit comes after years
ments during a meeting of tensions over the U.S.
with Chinese Foreign Minis- Terminal High Altitude Area
ter Wang Yi at Seoul’s pres- Defense, or THAAD, system
idential Blue House. Wang placed in southern South
made his first visit in four Korea and amid concerns
years amid efforts to patch that a U.S.-led diplomatic
up relations damaged by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi push to resolve a nuclear
South Korea’s deployment during a meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. standoff with North Korea
of a U.S. anti-missile system Associated Press is beginning to fall apart
China perceives as a secu- Wang called for stronger en dialogue and coopera- next year. over disagreements in ex-
rity threat. “strategic communica- tion to jointly uphold multi- Wang told Moon that changing sanctions relief
“The process for the com- tion” between Beijing and lateralism and free trade,” China would continue to and disarmament.
plete denuclearizing of the Seoul and took a jab at Wang said. play a “constructive role” With the talks faltering,
Korean Peninsula and per- the Trump administration, The Blue House said Moon in the efforts to peacefully North Korean leader Kim
manently stabilizing peace which is locked in trade during his meeting with resolve the nuclear crisis Jong Un has intensified his
is at a critical crossroads,” war with Beijing, saying Wang called for stronger despite “recent difficul- missile testing activity while
Moon said. “I would like to that international order bilateral efforts to facilitate ties in the political situation issuing an end-of-year
ask for continuous support was being threatened by tourism between the coun- surrounding the Korean deadline for the Trump
from the Chinese govern- “unilateralism” and “forc- tries and expressed hope Peninsula,” the Blue House administration to offer mu-
ment until the new era of ible politics.” that Chinese President Xi said. tually acceptable terms
a peaceful and denucle- “China and South Korea as Jinping would visit South Wang on Wednesday met for a deal to salvage the
arized Korean Peninsula neighbors should strength- Korea at an “early time” with South Korean Foreign diplomacy.q
opens.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the
International Volunteer Forum at the Olympic Park in Sochi,
Russia, Dec. 5, 2019.
Associated Press
Putin offers US to extend key

nuclear pact right now

Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said
Thursday that Moscow is prepared to immediately ex-
tend the only remaining nuclear arms reduction pact
with the United States.
Speaking at a meeting with military officials, Putin said
that Russia has repeatedly offered the U.S. to extend
the New START treaty that expires in 2021 but that it
hasn’t heard back.
“Russia is ready to extend the New START treaty im-
mediately, before the year’s end and without any
preconditions,” he said.q