Chinese President Xi Jinping cemented ties with South Korea during his first visit in 11 years, signing seven economic agreements and calling the nation an “inseparable cooperative partner.” However, the urgent issue of North Korea’s nuclear program remains unsolved.
The bilateral agreements included a won-yuan currency swap and MOUs on high-tech and social cooperation. Xi’s message, echoed in Chinese state media, was one of opening a “new chapter” in relations through “friendly consultation.”
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, however, had a different priority. He pleaded with Xi to help restart dialogue with North Korea, proposing a “phased approach” to denuclearisation.
This effort was immediately undercut by North Korea itself. The Chinese ally released a statement dismissing Lee’s plan as an “unrealisable pipe dream” and reaffirming its status as Seoul’s “main enemy.”
Chinese state media tellingly made no mention of the North Korea discussions. A South Korean official could only confirm that China expressed a general willingness to cooperate for peace on the peninsula.