South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday during a state summit in Gyeongju. Xi visited South Korea for the first time in eleven years. The leaders attended an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum before holding talks on regional cooperation and security.
Xi told Lee that China values its relationship with South Korea. He said Beijing wants to expand cooperation and jointly address regional challenges. Lee welcomed China’s commitment and expressed hope for stronger ties between the two nations.
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Lee requested China’s assistance to restart dialogue with North Korea. He highlighted recent exchanges between China and Pyongyang. Lee said favorable conditions now exist to engage North Korea and reduce regional tension.
Lee proposed a phased plan to denuclearize North Korea. He recommended starting with engagement and freezing further nuclear development. Pyongyang rejected this plan, calling denuclearization an “unrealistic pipe dream.”
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Lee emphasized that South Korea aims to strengthen its alliance with the United States while maintaining a constructive relationship with China. Both leaders agreed on the importance of strategic communication for regional stability.