NHK, MARCH 9, 2018— China has welcomed a proposed summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un that could take place by May.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a news conference on Friday that antagonism between the United States and the North is the core of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Geng noted that China is glad to see the countries finally taking a step.

He also said China hopes to see progress through reconciliation and cooperation between the 2 Koreas as well as dialogue and negotiations between the North and the US.

Geng was asked about the role China will play amid moves toward the summit and inter-Korean summit talks.

He said China hopes that nations concerned will keep working to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue politically and achieve long-term stability. He added that China will play its own active role, but did not give specifics.