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For instance, the concern about "China Passing (isolation)" disappeared when Kim Jong-un used Air China's private jet to travel to Singapore. China might have appeared invisible, but it was the main actor at the table.
Furthermore, Kim Jong-un has visited China three times n three months, which clearly shows that the countries have a special relationship and that their political leaders can meet and talk anytime anywhere.
Above all, the "Freeze for Freeze" (a simultaneous freeze for both North Korea's nuclear and missile tests and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises) and a "Dual-Track Approach" (denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a peace treaty between two Koreas), which China has influenced strongly, were pivotal in the agreement between U.S. and North Korea.
The South Korea-China relationship is relatively ambiguous.
Considering the last discussions with Yang Jiechi, the Chinese special envoy who visited South Korea to share the results of the Xi Jinping-Kim Jung-un summit, the talks may well have been more about solving the fine dust problem, normalizing Chinese group tours, or subsidies on electric vehicle batteries ― all serious issues for the Korean government.
In addition, South Korea gave the impression of excluding China from the plan for the U.S.-ROK-DPRK plan to declare an end to the war.
Nevertheless, China cannot treat South Korea carelessly, because keeping some distance in its dealings with South Korea will not help China's position post the U.S.-DPRK Summit. THAAD and/or U.S. forces in Korea must be dealt with during the peace talks, and here, South Korea's status is critical.
China says the declaration to end the war is acceptable if China is consulted, which lowers the chance of armed confrontation. However, China has to be involved from start to finish at the peace talks. From South Korea's perspective, China joining in the peace talks as late as possible would be good, but excluding China itself is impossible.
Even during the 'China Passing' China had influenced "the inside of the ground" from "the outside of the ground" when Kim Jong-un visited Beijing and Dailian.
Even though we do not want China to be involved, once China decides to do so, we cannot to anything. Therefore we must pretend not to be uncomfortable even though we are.
The absence of the term "CVID" in the U.S.-North Korea Joint Statement is very controversial now, but South Korea's intended goal has in fact been accomplished.
A face-to-face meeting between the U.S. and North Korea happened, and as a result, building peace on Korean Peninsula has started.
On the other hand, South Korea's role as a mediator might shrink in the peace building, not because the situation on the peninsula is getting worse, but because it is getting better and better.
Maybe once direct talks among U.S., China, and North Korea start happening frequently, South Korea might not catch up with all the details. However, we should not be disappointed at this. There will be numerous opportunities for South Korea to play a role in the ongoing process.
In the present situation, South Korea should behave responsibly with its neighboring countries to ensure peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
Hwang Jae-ho is a director of the Global Security Cooperation Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul.
