South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that he had requested Chinese President Xi Jinping to play a mediating role in Seoul’s efforts to engage North Korea. Speaking to South Korean media in Shanghai after their talks, Lee noted that Xi emphasized patience in dealing with the nuclear-armed North. The meeting marked their second in less than three months, reflecting a broader effort to restore trust and strengthen bilateral relations between Seoul and Beijing.
Lee outlined South Korea’s ongoing attempts to open dialogue with Pyongyang, which so far have not produced results, and stressed the importance of pursuing peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also discussed the need to balance South Korea’s ties with China and Japan, highlighting the complexity of diplomacy in the region.
Why It Matters
China is North Korea’s most significant diplomatic and economic partner, giving it considerable leverage over Pyongyang. By asking Xi to mediate, South Korea is attempting to use China’s influence to reduce tensions and revive stalled talks. Lee’s visit also signals a thaw in Seoul-Beijing relations after several years of tension, including restrictions on South Korean cultural exports in China following Seoul’s deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in 2017.
Xi’s remarks, such as “talk is easy, but action is not so easy,” underscored Beijing’s cautious approach to North Korea and the emphasis on building mutual trust over time. Lee’s engagement reflects South Korea’s strategic aim to maintain strong ties with both China and Japan while addressing the North Korean challenge.
South Korea is seeking diplomatic solutions to the North Korean nuclear issue while maintaining regional stability and strong economic ties with China. China could serve as a key mediator, leveraging its influence to encourage Pyongyang to participate in dialogue. North Korea remains resistant to external pressure, and any breakthrough would depend heavily on Beijing’s cooperation. Meanwhile, Japan and the United States are watching closely, as stability on the Korean Peninsula affects broader regional security and trade dynamics.
What’s Next
South Korea is expected to continue diplomatic outreach to China and other regional partners to facilitate dialogue with North Korea. Follow-up talks may focus on identifying concrete steps toward resuming inter-Korean communication and building confidence between the two Koreas. Seoul may also collaborate with Beijing to encourage Pyongyang to take part in multilateral discussions or adopt measures that reduce nuclear tensions. How the United States and Japan respond to these efforts will be closely monitored, as their support or opposition could shape the success of South Korea’s mediation strategy.
With information from Reuters.