S. Korea’s Leader Appeals to China for N. Korea Mediation
The appeal came during Monday's discussions between Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Seoul requesting Beijing's assistance in opening communication pathways on critical matters such as Pyongyang's atomic weapons development, the report indicated.
Speaking to journalists in Shanghai, Lee disclosed his diplomatic pitch: "There's something I asked for from the Chinese side," Lee said. "I would like (China) to play the role of a mediator on Korean Peninsula issues, including on the North Korean nuclear issue."
The South Korean president painted a bleak picture of inter-Korean relations, noting that contact mechanisms between the neighboring states have completely shut down, leaving "zero trust" remaining and hostility dominating relations between the neighbors.
Lee's four-day state visit to China, which began Sunday in Beijing, represents his inaugural trip to the country since he took power in June of last year.
Chinese officials appeared receptive to the mediation proposal, Lee indicated. He said President Xi acknowledged past efforts and emphasized the need for patience, a view Lee said he shared.
Explaining his diplomatic approach, Lee stated: "For quite a long time, we've effectively taken military offensive action against North Korea. North Korea was likely extremely nervous. In order to have dialogue with a counterpart, we have to understand the position of the other side."
The diplomatic outreach occurred against a backdrop of escalating provocations—Pyongyang conducted hypersonic missile tests Sunday, its inaugural ballistic launch in 2025. China maintains strategic alliance ties with North Korea.
Lee's administration has pursued reconciliation with Pyongyang since assuming office, though the North has rebuffed these overtures. Relations between the two Koreas collapsed under Lee's predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from power last year following his implementation of contested emergency military rule.
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