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REPUBLIC OF KOREA/CHINA
7.
.. with why o
China and South Korea exchanged trade offices earlier this year and two way trade, which has been growing steadily, is expected to
reach US $4.4 billion this year. Chinese intentions towards South Koeea remain unclear. They supported the South's application to join the United Nations and the foreign ministers of both countries
met for the first time at the UNGA on 2 October. The Chinese
Foreign Minister will also be visiting Seoul in November to take part in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. This appears to be a significant development although there is no evidence of plans to establish diplomatic relations. The probability is that China will play this issue very long.
NORTH KOREA/CHINA
8.
Kim-Il-Sung paid a visit Radio and newspaper North Korea any more
Superficially relations remain good. to China (his 39th) from 3 - 13 October. reports indicate that China will not give economic aid, although military aid is set to increase. China, following the Soviet Union's establishment of diplomatic relations with South Korea last year, is now seen to be the only major source of pressure on North Korea. Even then the Chinese argue that their influence is limited, although they were clearly responsible for
breaking the log-jam on UN entry. They have apparently put pressure
on North Korea to adhere to its NPT obligations.
FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT
24 OCTOBER 1991
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