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China Hosts S. Korea and Japan Amid N. Korea's Growing Belligerence

VOA News

   China held a three-way summit with South Korea and Japan Tuesday aimed
   at presenting a united front to counter North Korea's resurgent
   belligerence.

   Premier Li Kequiang welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in and
   Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the southwestern city of Chengdu,
   two days ahead of a so-called "Christmas gift" from North Korean leader
   Kim Jong Un. Kim is demanding new concessions from the United States by
   the end of the year in exchange for restarting the stalled negotiations
   aimed at getting the North to abandon its nuclear program.

   In his opening remarks, President Moon said the increased tensions "in
   no way benefits either of our countries or North Korea."

   The trilateral meeting was also held amid an escalating dispute between
   Seoul and Tokyo over recentcourt rulings in South Korea ordering
   Japanese companies to compensate Koreans who were forced to work in
   Japanese plants during World War Two.

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