The U.S. State Department on Tuesday welcomed a decision by China and South Korea to restore normal ties after a year-long standoff over a decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a missile defense system to counter North Korea’s nuclear program.
“We ... were pleased to hear that the Republic of Korea, that our Korean friends, and also the Chinese are forging a closer relationship,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, adding, “We see that as providing better stability ... for a region that desperately needs it because of North Korea.”