Thursday, January 8, 2026- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced that during his recent summit in Beijing, he formally asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to serve as a mediator on issues related to North Korea, including the stalled nuclear crisis and deteriorated inter‑Korean relations.
Lee made the request amid concerns that all direct communication channels with Pyongyang are currently blocked, leaving Seoul struggling to engage North Korea through conventional diplomatic avenues. China, as North Korea’s largest trading partner and longtime diplomatic backer, is viewed by Seoul as uniquely positioned to encourage Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.
Speaking to reporters in Shanghai after the summit, Lee emphasized that this outreach is part of broader efforts to ease tensions and prevent further escalation of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
He told Xi that China’s involvement as a mediator could help restart dialogue that has been frozen for years, noting that patience and understanding of North Korea’s security concerns will be necessary if talks are to resume. Xi acknowledged the request and urged patience, signaling that progress on such complex issues is likely to be gradual.
The move underscores Seoul’s strategic push to deepen diplomatic engagement with major regional powers while coping with the reality of Pyongyang’s expanding nuclear arsenal and regular missile tests.
South Korea and its allies, including the United States, have repeatedly called on China to leverage its influence over North Korea, though Beijing has historically been cautious about taking steps that Pyongyang might view as coercive. This latest effort reflects shifting dynamics in regional diplomacy as leaders seek new pathways to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
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