Lee Jae-myung turns to China to ease North Korea tensions, but will Beijing take sides?
Analysts say Beijing’s role will depend on new South Korean leader’s approach to China and potential for US-North Korea dialogue
In a 30-minute phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, six days after taking office, Lee urged China to play a “constructive role” in the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
Xi responded that China would make efforts to resolve the issue, saying that peace and stability on the peninsula were in the common interest of both countries, according to South Korean presidential spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung.
However, a Chinese foreign ministry statement did not refer to that part of the phone conversation or to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
Analysts said the omission reflected China’s consistent stance in favour of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula while refraining from putting public pressure on North Korea.