The complex diplomacy over North Korea saw several moves this week, with U.S. President Donald Trump offering talks to Kim Jong Un, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung asking Chinese President Xi Jinping for help. Trump’s offer, made during his visit to Seoul, received no public response from Kim.
Following Trump’s visit, where a U.S.-South Korea trade deal was announced, Lee hosted Xi for a state summit in Gyeongju. Trump notably departed before the main APEC leaders’ forum, which Xi attended.
At the summit, Lee urged Xi to help resume dialogue with North Korea, citing “favourable conditions.” However, North Korea, a Chinese ally, immediately dismissed Lee’s denuclearisation agenda as a “pipe dream” and reiterated its refusal to talk to Seoul.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has previously stated he would be willing to talk to the United States if Washington drops its demands for denuclearisation. During the Lee-Xi summit, both sides agreed that U.S.-North Korea dialogue was the “most important” path forward.
President Xi focused his public remarks on economic partnership, signing seven agreements with Seoul. His official state media reports on the meeting made no mention of the North Korea discussions.