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By Kang Hyun-kyung
Kim Kwan-jin, the head of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office (NSO) is likely to visit China soon for meetings with high-ranking Chinese officials, according to sources familiar with the issue Sunday.
If realized, this will be the first time for Kim, as chief of the nation's foreign policy and security control tower, to visit China since he took office in June last year.
Several government officials said on condition of anonymity that Seoul and Beijing are in last-minute discussions about Kim's itinerary.
On Sunday, presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook confirmed that Seoul and Beijing have been discussing the matter.
"As of now, however, there is nothing that I can say because the responsible authorities of the two sides are still discussing the details," Min told The Korea Times.
During a summit held in June 2013, President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to establish a dialogue channel between the chief of the NSO and the Chinese Cabinet minister in charge of foreign affairs. The first meeting took place in Seoul in November last year.
During any second meeting in Beijing, Kim and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi are expected to discuss a variety of bilateral and regional issues.
Officials who are familiar with the matter said that among several issues, inter-Korean relations will be one as the two Koreas recently expressed their willingness to confer.
China has long been North Korea's benevolent, key trading partner.
Seoul is hoping that Beijing can use this relationship to play a role in persuading Pyongyang to improve relations between the two Koreas, officials said.
The two sides are also expected to exchange ideas about China-North Korea relations which have turned sour after Bejiing showed signs of distancing itself when President Xi took power.
Kim and Yang will also exchange their views about the developments of East Asian affairs following the trilateral military intelligence sharing pact among South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Some speculated that Kim may pay a visit to Chinese leader Xi, given that Yang paid a courtesy visit to President Park in 2013 when he visited Seoul for the first talks with Kim.
