China's Xi says Beijing will not recognize N. Korea's nuclear policy

Chinese President Xi Jinping told South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Wednesday that he will not recognize North Korea's policy of simultaneously pursuing nuclear advance and economic development.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Hwang in Beijing, according to an official at the prime minister's office who attended the meeting.

Xi also repeated China's stance that Beijing "firmly opposes" North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and is faithfully implementing U.N. sanctions against the North's nuclear and missile programs.

Hwang told Xi that the implementation of U.N. sanctions and other pressures on North Korea must continue for North Korea to "change calculations," the official said.

Hwang and Xi discussed the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea, but the official declined to give details about the discussion.

According to a report by China's official Xinhua news agency earlier in the day, Xi told Hwang that Seoul needs to be "cautious" about the possible deployment of the U.S. missile shield on its soil.

The Chinese leader urged South Korea "to attach importance to Beijing's legitimate concern on security and 'cautiously and appropriately' address the United States' plan to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country," the report said.

In the wake of North Korea's fourth nuclear test and the launch of a long-range rocket earlier this year, South Korea and the United States started formal talks on deploying a THAAD battery to South Korea to better defend Seoul from Pyongyang's growing threats.

For South Korea, the decision to adopt the U.S. missile system was based on its national security interests to enhance its defense posture against North Korea's advances in nuclear and missile programs.

Russia and China have long voiced opposition to the deployment of a THAAD battery to South Korea, claiming that the U.S. missile shield may undermine the strategic balance in the region.

South Korea and the U.S. have dismissed the concerns, saying the THAAD system is defensive in nature and would only target North Korea. (Yonhap)