Beijing and Seoul agree to 'normalize' ties after THAAD

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China and South Korea have agreed to get their relations back on track as soon as possible, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, following high level talks between the two countries.

Both countries attach a great importance to the bilateral ties, according to a statement on its website.

South Korea acknowledges China's stance and concerns about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system and it has made clear that the deployment of THAAD will not target any third country, and will not harm China's strategic security and interests, the statement read.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said both countries agreed to normalize all forms of cooperation and exchanges "expeditiously."

A US military vehicle which is a part of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system arrives in Seongju, April 26, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"Both sides shared the view that the strengthening of exchange and cooperation between South Korea and China serves common interests and agreed to expeditiously bring exchange and cooperation in all areas back on a normal development track," South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

On Monday, South Korean Foreign Ministry Kang Kyung-wha told lawmakers Seoul will not mull any more deployment of THAAD and it will not participate in the US-led missile defense (MD) networks.

The US military has already installed a THAAD battery that includes six missile launchers in the southeastern county of Seongju.

The statements said the two countries also discussed the tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of an upcoming summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam on November 10-11.

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