In talks with China’s Xi, South Korea’s Lee seeks alternatives for peace on Korean Peninsula

By Berk Kutay Gokmen and Islamuddin Sajid

ISTANBUL / ISLAMABAD (AA) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday called for exploring “alternatives” to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Lee made the remarks as Xi hosted him during a state visit to China, his first since taking office last year.

He said Seoul would work with Beijing to explore “viable alternatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula so that both countries can jointly contribute to peace, the basic foundation for prosperity and growth,” according to Yonhap News.

He said that the year 2026 will be "an important opportunity" for "full restoration" of South Korea-China relations.

Lee’s visit to China coincided with hypersonic missile launches by North Korea, China’s ally on Sunday. It was Pyongyang’s first ballistic missile test this year.

Since his election in June, Lee has taken steps to restore ties with Pyongyang, but North Korea has shown no response. Relations between the two Koreas deteriorated under the previous administration of Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted last year after imposing controversial martial law.

Calling for a “new phase” in bilateral relations, Lee said he would “invariably make efforts” to develop the Seoul-Beijing strategic cooperative partnership into an “irreversible trend of the times.”

Xi told Lee that China has always viewed its relationship with South Korea “as a matter of importance in its neighborhood diplomacy,” adding that Beijing’s policy toward Seoul “has maintained continuity and stability.”

“China stands ready to work with the ROK (South Korea) to steer the course of friendly cooperation, promote mutual benefit and win-win results, and bring the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership forward along the track of sound development,” Xi told Lee, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

Following the talks, the two leaders signed 15 cooperation documents covering scientific and technological innovation, environmental protection, transportation, and trade and economic cooperation, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.

Lee arrived in Beijing on Sunday for his four-day state visit, his first trip to China since assuming office in June last year.

Ahead of the meeting, Lee described China as a “very important partner” for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula and reiterated Seoul’s respect for the one-China policy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Monday that China and South Korea are “close neighbors and cooperative partners,” adding that Beijing hopes Lee’s visit will “further advance” bilateral ties.

Lin said the leaders’ meeting is expected to “play a positive role” in strengthening relations between the two countries.

China and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992. Bilateral trade reached more than $267 billion in 2024.