January 7, 2026 | 08:31 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that he had requested China's assistance in limiting North Korea's nuclear program.
The South Korean leader met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday.
Lee has said he seeks to open a "new phase" of ties with China.
What did Lee say?
Lee said he told Xi that he would like Beijing to take on a "mediating role" in the Korean Peninsula.
"I would like China to play a mediating role on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's nuclear program. All our channels are completely blocked," Lee told journalists in Shanghai.
"We hope China can serve as a mediator — a mediator for peace."
Lee said that Xi had told him to show "patience" toward North Korea amid rising tensions.
"For quite a long period, we carried out military actions that North Korea would have perceived as threatening," Lee said.
Full denuclearization a long-term goal
The South Korean president said he hoped he could get Pyongyang to halt further development of its nuclear program.
"Just stopping at the current level — no additional production of nuclear weapons, no transfer of nuclear materials abroad, and no further development of [intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMS)]— would already be a gain," he said.
But he insisted that a "nuclear-free Korean Peninsula" remained a long-term goal for Seoul.
Lee said that Seoul had reached a "consensus" on these issues with Beijing.
North Korea has carried out a flurry of ballistic missile tests in recent years alongside efforts to boost its nuclear capabilities, with its leader, Kim Jong Un, claiming the need for a deterrent against the United States.
Lee seeks to improve China ties
Lee, who came into office in June 2025, is the first South Korean president to visit Beijing in six years.
His left-leaning Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) tends to call for stronger ties with China and a less confrontational approach to North Korea than the rival People Power Party (PPP).
China is South Korea's top trading partner, but Seoul also maintains strong defense ties with the United States.
Read: North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles off Its East Coast
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles off Its East Coast
3 hari lalu
Pyongyang's latest display of firepower comes ahead of South Korean President Lee's meeting with China's Xi Jinping.
South Korea Allows Public Access to North Korean Newspapers
4 hari lalu
Starting this week, residents of South Korea can read the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun.
K-Pop Band BTS Set to Make Comeback in March
4 hari lalu
BTS is back. The reunion follows a four-year hiatus after all seven members finished their mandatory military service.
South Korean Prosecutors Seek 10-Year Sentence for Yoon Suk Yeol in Martial Law Case
11 hari lalu
South Korean prosecutor seeks a 10-year prison term for former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
South Korea Welcomes Record 18.5 Million Foreign Tourists in 2025
15 hari lalu
South Korea welcomed its 18.5 millionth foreign tourist on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, marking a new record for inbound travel.
Chinese Tourists Flock to South Korea Amid Diplomatic Row with Japan
18 hari lalu
Diplomatic tensions between China and Japan have led to a significant shift in the travel patterns of Chinese tourists, opening up opportunities for other countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Indonesian Students' Basil Milk Wins Top Honors in Seoul
21 hari lalu
Unpad students' participation started with the submission of their work proposal to Indonesian Invention and Innovation Promotion Association in 2025.
US Bombers Join Japanese Jets to Counter China-Russia Drills
27 hari lalu
The show of force highlights growing regional tensions as China asserts its military presence.
Trump's Transactional Diplomacy Alarms Japan, South Korea
33 hari lalu
Key US allies Japan and South Korea will likely be looking carefully at signals from the Trump administration's recent moves on Ukraine and China.
22 Iconic Korean Foods You've Seen in K-Dramas, What's Your Favorite?
36 hari lalu
Explore 22 Iconic Korean Foods Featured in K-Dramas. From spicy tteokbokki to classic kimchi, these dishes are as tasty as they are culturally rich.
