Seoul and Beijing have agreed to amend the dispute over the deployment of the THAAD antimissile system on South Korean soil. 
 
The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday posted a statement on recent talks between the two sides over the THAAD issue on its Web site. The statement was simultaneously posted by China.
 
The statement says diplomatic authorities of the two sides have recently conducted discussions regarding issues related to the Korean Peninsula.
 
It says the two sides highly value their ties and have decided to pursue advancement in their strategic cooperative relationship.
 
The two sides also agreed that strengthening exchanges meet their common interest. Accordingly, they agreed to swiftly return their exchanges in all fields back to the normal track of development. 

According to the statement, South Korea recognized China’s stance and concerns over the THAAD installment. It also made clear that the antimissile system will, in line with its initial purpose, not, by any means, target a third country thus not harm China’s strategic security interests.
 
China, on its part, reiterated that it’s against the deployment of THAAD in South Korea while saying that it has noted Seoul’s position on the matter and hopes that Seoul will appropriately address the issue.
 
The two sides also agreed to communicate on China’s concerns over THAAD through a channel between their military authorities.
 
The two sides also reaffirmed the principle of seeking a peaceful resolution to North Korea’s nuclear issue and realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and vowed to continuously work toward addressing the North’s nuclear problem through all diplomatic means. To this end, the two countries decided to further boost strategic communication and cooperation.
 
With the latest agreements, China’s retaliatory measures against South Korea over the THAAD installment and ensuing conflict between the two countries’ governments appear to have simmered down.
 
China began to take such retaliatory steps after Seoul, during the Park Geun-hye administration, announced last July its plan to deploy THAAD.