Seoul: South Korea is considering sending a high-level envoy to Beijing to secure its backing at the UN Security Council to rebuke North Korea over the sinking of one of its warships, a Foreign Ministry official said.
"We are considering sending Chung Yung Woo, a Vice Foreign Minister, to China at the proper time," the official said on condition of anonymity, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Called by Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan, the meeting discussed future responses to the torpedo attack by the North, including how to win support against Pyongyang at the Security Council, the official was quoted as saying.
Seoul needs to win support from veto-wielding council members such as Russia and China, which have traditionally been close to Pyongyang, to secure a UN censure resolution against the North.
Seoul is also considering sending a civilian-military probe team for a briefing at the UN Security Council if there is a request from the council, he said.
The official, however, said nothing was decided regarding the two visits.
The timing of Chung`s Beijing visit will be decided according to "at what point in time and at which stage would be most proper to hold talks with China," the official was quoted as saying.
During the meeting, the official also said, there was an opinion that Seoul should take a "highly diplomatic" approach to the issue because it should have in mind international efforts to denuclearize North Korea at the same time, according to Yonhap.
PTI
