ROK wants to cooperate with China, Japan for peace on peninsula
CGTN
["china"]
The Unification Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Kim Yeon-chul called on Wednesday for joint efforts with China and Japan to build peace on the Korean Peninsula in his first meetings with the top envoys from the neighboring countries since taking office, according to Yonhap.
He met separately with Chinese Ambassador and Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Qiu Guohong and Yasumasa Nagamine in the ROK capital. 
Yonhap quoted him as saying to both Qiu and Nagamine that he hopes the ROK could cooperate with its neighboring countries for peace on the Korean Peninsula.    
The ROK news agency also reported that during the meeting, the Chinese envoy praised President Moon Jae-in's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and mediate negotiations between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
On Monday, Moon said that he is willing to go anywhere to meet the DPRK leader for a fourth summit.
ROK President Moon Jae-in (R) and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the DPRK, hold a commemorative event to plant a pine tree, beside a path near the military demarcation line, April 27, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

ROK President Moon Jae-in (R) and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the DPRK, hold a commemorative event to plant a pine tree, beside a path near the military demarcation line, April 27, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Minister Kim was chief of the Seoul-based Korea Institute for National Unification think tank before his inauguration last week.
Both the Chinese and Japanese ambassadors expressed their expectation for Minister Kim to play a more active role in improving inter-Korean relations. 
On Tuesday, Minister Kim met with U.S. Ambassador to ROK Harry Harris, during which he pledged close cooperation with Washington in resolving ROK's nuclear issue.
Earlier DPRK leader Kim Jong Un expressed his willingness to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the third time. 
China's Foreign Ministry welcomed the continuing momentum for dialogue on the Peninsula. 
Spokesperson Lu Kang on Monday emphasized that China encourages the DPRK and the U.S. to meet each other half way, stick to the direction of settling the issue through dialogue, step up engagement, take phased and synchronized steps as part of a package solution, and work with all parties concerned towards denuclearization and a political settlement.
953km