S. Korean president to attend China`s WWII victory event

President Park Geun-hye has decided to visit China to attend its celebrations in Beijing on September 3 of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. She will become the first South Korean president to attend such a war victory ceremony in China. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was also invited to the event, is unlikely to join it, sources said.

Ju Chul-ki, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs, told reporters that the South Korean president will visit China from September 2 to 4 on Beijing`s invitation. On the last day of the visit, Park plans to attend a reopening ceremony for the building of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, he said.

During the visit, Park also plans to hold summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss pending bilateral issues including a proposed three-way summit among the leaders of the two countries and Japan. The presidents of South Korea and China have already had five summit meetings since Park`s inauguration.

Regarding a controversial attendance at a Chinese military parade, Ju said, "Details about attending the military parade are under consideration." President Park is reportedly making last-minute considerations about the parade, leaving open the possibility of her attendance. As the parade will take place right after the war victory ceremony at the same place, it would not be easy under diplomatic protocols to leave the venue immediately after the victory event, sources said. At a time when U.S. President Barack Obama and the leaders of most Western countries will likely boycott the Chinese event, Park seems to be thinking for a long time about what message her China visit would send to the Seoul-Washington alliance.

mhpark@donga.com