This year will be critical for the Korean Peninsula. All the countries engaged in the Six-Party Talks have seen leadership transitions in the past year or so and, therefore, they may change their policies on the Korean Peninsula issue in accordance with the changing international situation.

China, however, has not changed its policy after the election of Xi Jinping as the country's top political leader and head of the military at the 18th Party Congress. This means "to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, peacefully resolve the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear issue through dialogue, and maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula" will continue to be at the core of China's policy.

China and the Republic of Korea are willing to strengthen communication on the issue. On Tuesday, the ROK sent a special delegation to China in an effort to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue. Two weeks ago, ROK president-elect Park Geun-hye met with the Chinese government's special envoy and Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, who conveyed to her the greetings from President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.