China's special envoy has been updating South Korean officials on what was discussed between the leaders of China and North Korea when they met in Beijing this week.
Yang Jiechi, who arrived in Seoul on Thursday, will brief President Moon Jae-in later today.
Our Cheongwadae correspondent Hwang Hojun reports. The visit by the Chinese State Councilor shows Beijing does not intend to be left out of the loop in the ever-changing inter-Korean relationship.
Yang Jiechi, a key Chinese diplomat and a member of the Politburo, met Thursday afternoon with South Korea's National Security Adviser, Chung Eui-yong.
According to initial pool reports, South Korea's top security advisor expressed satisfaction at the surprise bilateral summit between the leaders of China and North Korea.

"The Beijing-Pyongyang summit was significant. It reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as well to as the upcoming inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea summits."

Chung also recalled his own visit to Beijing earlier this month as President Moon's special envoy,... when President Xi said China and South Korea are on the same page when it comes to critical issues concerning the Peninsula and expressed support for Seoul's policy of establish lasting peace in the region.
Yang, in return, said the recent exchanges between Beijing and Pyongyang would only benefit the upcoming summit.

We think Kim Jong-un's recent surprise visit to Bejing and his meeting with President Xi Jinping will help the April summit between the two Koreas accomplish even more."

Amid the quickly changing situation, Yang stressed that both China and South Korea must continue to closely communicate with each other and seek to develop their bilateral relationship in accordance with the agreement reached by Presidents Moon and Xi.
Last December the two leaders agreed that war on the Peninsula would be unacceptable. They also made a firm commitment to the Peninsula’s denuclearization,... to work toward a peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue through dialogue and negotiation,... and they agreed on the benefits of improving inter-Korean relations to resolve such issues.
The meeting between Yang Jiechi and Chung Eui-yong turned into a dinner hosted by Chung shortly after they wrapped up their talks.
Friday afternoon, Yang will pay a visit to President Moon Jae-in.
Meanwhile, regarding the fixed date of the much anticipated Seoul-Pyongyang summit in April, the Blue House spokesperson said this afternoon that the South Korean government will put its utmost efforts into preparing for it, especially now that they have a fixed date.
He also said that he hopes the April summit will become a turning point in establishing peace on the Peninsula and called for the public's unified support for a successful summit.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.