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Chinese President Hu Jintao remained opposed to placing blame on North Korea for the sinking of the Navy vessel Cheonan during talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on June 28.

During a summit with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on the sidelines of a G-20 meeting in Toronto, Hu confirmed that Beijing disapproves of any act that disrupts peace on the Korean Peninsula, but stopped short of directly blaming North Korea.

“As North Korea’s continued provocation poses a severe threat to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asian region, proper international cooperation is necessary to prevent its repetition,” President Lee was quoted as saying.

Lee reportedly asked China to join the U.N. Security Council’s punitive measures against North Korea for its deadly naval attack on the 1,200-ton corvette in March. Lee joked with Hu during the summit, saying, “I have met many leaders in Toronto, but I thought that I should meet you right now.”

Hu replied, “I fully understand South Korea‘…’s position. Let’s continue close consultations in the process of responding to the issue at the UN Security Council.”

Hu said China “condemns and opposes any act that demolishes the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula,” repeating Beijing’s customary stance when South Korea, Japan and western allies push for tough sanctions against the North Korea.

China’s cooperation is essential to South Korea‘s efforts to get a new sanctions resolution or a strongly worded presidential statement against North Korea at the Security Council in connection with the Cheonan incident, as Beijing is a permanent member with veto powers.

A Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) official said, “It was a meaningful summit.”

Hu’s comment, however, was not far from his initial statement in responding to the sinking of the Cheonan on March 26, when he stated, “We have take notice of South Korea‘s investigation into the event.”

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao also said they would not protect whoever is responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan when the results of the investigation came out during the conversation with President Lee at the Cheong Wa Dae on May 30.

Source: Yonhap News Agency