Beijing: National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a significant military parade in China on Wednesday, as confirmed by Woo's office. The two leaders briefly exchanged greetings before they watched the parade at Tiananmen Square, which was organized to commemorate China's victory over Japan in World War II. Details on any further interaction between the two were not provided.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Woo also held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which he encouraged Xi to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next month. This interaction marked Woo's second meeting with Xi, following their previous discussions in Harbin in February.
In another crucial engagement, Woo met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During this meeting, Woo sought Moscow's support for approximately 130 South Korean businesses operating in Russia. Putin expressed interest in inter-Korean relations and the broader issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. He inquired if Woo had any message for Kim Jong-un in the event of a North Korea-Russia summit. Woo emphasized the aspiration for the two Koreas to "open an era of peace and prosperity" and highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts to establish peace on the peninsula despite prevailing challenges.
Before concluding his visit, Woo is expected to engage with senior officials from the National People's Congress and the State Council. He plans to return home on Friday.