美国助理国务卿坎贝尔星期三在北京与中国高级官员举行会晤，讨论朝鲜前领导人金正日去世后该国的稳定问题。坎贝尔是美国负责东亚和太平洋事务的助理国务卿。他与中国外交部官员会晤后说，美国和中国在朝鲜局势上有着共同的首要议题。坎贝尔还敦促该地区各方“谨慎处理这一局势，并避免出现任何挑衅行为”。美国时常敦促平壤的紧密盟友中国利用其影响力推动朝鲜的民主改革。
坎贝尔是金正日12月17日去世后美国访问东北亚最高级别的外交官。坎贝尔预计星期三晚些时候抵达韩国。韩国国防部长星期三早些时候说，华盛顿和首尔将很快签署一项联合行动计划，应对朝鲜潜在的挑衅行为，并增加联合军演的次数。星期五，坎贝尔将前往美国在该地区另一个关键性盟国日本进行访问。
Senior U.S. diplomat Kurt Campbell held talks with senior Chinese officials Wednesday in Beijing on the stability of North Korea following the death of former leader Kim Jong Il. Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said after his meeting with foreign ministry officials that the United States and China share some of the same priorities for North Korea. Campbell also urged all parties in the region to “cautiously deal with the situation and refrain from any provocations.” The United States has frequently urged China – Pyongyang’s closest ally – to use its influence to push for democratic reform in North Korea.
Campbell is the most senior U.S. diplomat to visit Northeast Asia since Mr. Kim’s death on December 17. Later Wednesday, Campbell is expected to arrive in South Korea. South Korea’s defense ministry said earlier Wednesday that Washington and Seoul will soon sign a joint operational plan to counter potential North Korean provocations and increase joint military exercises. On Friday, Campbell will head to Japan – another key U.S. ally in the region.