South Korean-Xi Jinping President Discusses Denuclearization Of Korean Peninsula

JAKARTA - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a summit on Saturday (1/11) to discuss various issues, including denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

The two presidents will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) in Gyeongju, South Korea (South Korea), marking Xi's first visit to the country since 11 years ago.

Reported by ANTARA from Yonhap-OANA, Saturday, November 1, the meeting will take place as South Korea seeks to maintain a balance between strengthening relations with China and staying in line with the United States, amid rising competition among superpowers.

China is North Korea's largest trading partner and traditional ally (North Korea).

South Korean presidential spokesman Kang Yu-jung said on Friday (31/10) the Leedan Xi meeting would also discuss nuclear weapons stripping on the Korean Peninsula, regional peace and stability, as well as economic issues that have an impact on people's lives.

Through a "pragmatic diplomacy policy," Lee promised to build a more balanced and future-oriented South Korean-China relationship.

He also emphasized the importance of China's role as regional partner as well as supporter of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee is expected to ask China to play a constructive role in pushing for peace efforts, as South Korea moves to ease tensions with North Korea and revive stalled denuclearization talks since 2019.

So far, North Korea has rejected Lee's offer to have a dialogue and has not responded to US President Donald Trump's invitation to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a visit to South Korea.

Tensions escalated after China last month announced countermeasures against five US subsidiary Hanwha Ocean, accusing them of cooperating with the US government in an investigation into China's maritime industry and shipyards.

The move sparked concern in South Korea as the affected companies are expected to play an important role in helping the US rebuild its shipyard sector under the South Korean-US trade agreement.

The meeting on Saturday came after a summit between Lee and Trump on Wednesday, which resulted in a trade agreement to lower US rates and approval of the use of nuclear fuel for South Korean nuclear-powered submarine projects.