The two also reaffirmed the traditional friendship between the countries and pledged to boost inter-party exchanges in order to “shore-up and develop China-North Korean relations and strive to advance regional peace and stability”, the department said.
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“China’s position on the (Korean Peninsula) issue is consistent and clear”.
President Xi Jinping urged all parties to disputes on the Korean Peninsula to maintain calm and restraint in a meeting today with a high-ranking North Korean envoy that appeared aimed at easing strains in the bilateral relationship.
North Korea’s KCNA state news agency reported that Mr Kim had vowed to continue with his policy of economic progress alongside nuclear development.
Mr Trump recently said he would be willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and has also proposed withdrawing United States troops from South Korea.
South Korea has rejected the North’s “kidnapping” claims and refused Pyongyang’s demands to allow the women’s parents to travel to Seoul to meet their daughters.
Many analysts believe that China is unlikely to put crippling sanctions on North Korea because a sudden collapse of the Pyongyang regime could spark a refugee crisis at its border and lead to a pro-U.S. and democratic Korea on its doorstep.
Trump has said he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un and has stated he would be open to removing US troops from South Korea, something the North would welcome.
Earlier this week, North Korea failed another intermediate-range ballistic missile test, according to Pentagon officials, This marks the fourth failed test launch of North Korea’s new type of missile, the Taepodong-2, which they have been trying to launch since 2006. Yu said the two countries’ differences over the North’s nuclear programme would take time to resolve.
North Korea attempted three test launches of the Musudan in April, all of which failed, US and South Korean officials have said.
The writer, Han Yong-mook – described as a Chinese North Korean scholar – said Mr Trump’s policy on USA troops would make the North’s “Yankee Go Home” vision come true.
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Although Beijing was angered by Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests, the Chinese leadership has been reluctant to take tougher action – for example by shutting their shared border – out of concern the country could collapse or fall into civil strife.
