Lee Asks Xi for Help on North Korea; China Stresses Cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has directly appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping for assistance in restarting stalled diplomatic talks with North Korea. The request was made during a state summit in Gyeongju, marking Xi’s first visit to the U.S. ally in 11 years.
Lee is promoting a “phased approach” to denuclearise the North, beginning with engagement and a freeze on further weapons development. He told Xi he was “very positive” about the current conditions for dialogue, citing recent high-level exchanges between China and North Korea as a favourable sign.
President Xi, whose visit followed an Asia-Pacific leaders’ forum, stated that Beijing places great importance on its relationship with Seoul, calling South Korea an “inseparable cooperative partner.” He expressed a willingness to widen cooperation and jointly tackle shared challenges.
However, the diplomatic push faces a formidable obstacle. On the same day, Pyongyang dismissed the denuclearisation agenda as an “unrealisable pipe dream.” North Korea has repeatedly rejected Lee’s overtures and recently designated the South as its main enemy, abandoning its long-held policy of unification.
A South Korean national security adviser confirmed that while China expressed a willingness to cooperate for peace, the leaders did not specify China’s role. Both sides did agree that dialogue between the United States and North Korea was of the utmost importance.