South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to assist in restarting diplomatic engagement with North Korea, using their summit in Gyeongju as an opportunity to push for renewed dialogue on the peninsula. The meeting marked Xi’s first trip to South Korea in more than a decade, underscoring its significance in the regional security landscape and in the evolving geopolitical environment of East Asia.
Ahead of the talks, Xi emphasised that China considers South Korea an important long-term partner and intends to deepen cooperation across multiple fields, from trade and technology to security and cultural exchanges. Lee, who entered office through a snap election in June, has been trying to maintain strong ties with the United States while simultaneously stabilising relations with China. His approach reflects a balance-focused diplomatic strategy intended to avoid antagonising Beijing while still reinforcing Seoul’s alliance with Washington.
Lee said he believed regional conditions were improving for potential re-engagement with Pyongyang, pointing to recent high-level contact between China and North Korea. He urged Beijing to work with Seoul to capitalise on what he described as a favourable moment, arguing that coordinated communication could help open a path toward renewed negotiations. He reiterated his view that a step-by-step process — beginning with a freeze on further nuclear development — remains the most realistic approach to denuclearisation and de-escalation.
However, North Korea issued a statement the same day rejecting any denuclearisation framework as unrealistic, calling such proposals a “pipe dream.” Pyongyang has made clear it views Seoul as an adversary and has repeatedly refused overtures from the South. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said he would only engage with Washington if denuclearisation demands were removed from the table, and he did not respond publicly when US President Donald Trump referenced potential talks earlier in the week.
While South Korea and China confirmed their shared desire for stability on the peninsula, National Security Adviser Wi Sunglac noted that the leaders did not address specific mechanisms for China’s involvement. Both governments, however, acknowledged that dialogue between North Korea and the United States remains central to any durable breakthrough. Chinese state media focused instead on Xi's proposals to expand cooperation in technology, green industries, healthcare, and multilateral diplomacy, without highlighting the North Korea topic.
During Xi’s visit, the two nations signed several agreements, including a renewal of a won-yuan currency swap and memorandums on online crime, senior-care industries, and innovation partnerships. These deals reflect ongoing economic interdependence, even as political tensions persist. South Korea maintains a formal security alliance with the US and hosts American forces, while also relying heavily on trade with China, creating a dual-dependence dynamic that often requires diplomatic precision.
Meanwhile, public sentiment toward China remains divided in South Korea. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in Seoul during the summit, voicing opposition to Chinese influence and calling for the protection of South Korea’s sovereignty and democratic values. Rising anti-China sentiment has led the Lee administration to warn against rallies that could damage the nation’s international image and economic interests.
At the summit, Seoul also raised long-standing concerns, such as China’s informal restrictions on Korean entertainment since the deployment of the THAAD missile system in 2017, as well as Beijing’s sanctions on units of Hanwha Ocean related to US cooperation. The two sides agreed to continue technical-level discussions. Additionally, Lee expressed concern about Chinese structures in disputed waters and Chinese aircraft activity inside South Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone. Defence officials from both countries held separate talks in Malaysia to address airspace and maritime security systems.
Overall, the summit reaffirmed a complex but strategically essential relationship. While Seoul seeks Xi’s help in restarting talks with Pyongyang, deep mistrust and diverging security priorities across the Korean Peninsula still define the broader landscape.
