South Korea's Lee to stress China's role on Korean Peninsula

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will focus on China’s efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula during a state visit from January 4 to 7, a trip aimed at restoring bilateral ties, presidential adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday (January 2).

“We will urge China’s constructive role so that fully restored South Korea-China relations can contribute to a breakthrough in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue,” Wi said during a briefing at the presidential office in Seoul.

The Lee administration has emphasized its goal of restoring ties with Beijing, recognizing China as South Korea’s largest trading partner.

Relations between China and Japan have cooled to their lowest point in years after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo.

South Korea is now seeking to maintain a careful balance, leaning toward cooperation with China to avoid being drawn into conflicts that could threaten its status as an Asian industrial powerhouse.

In December, Lee said he would not take sides in the diplomatic dispute between China and Japan.

Production: Dogyun Kim, Jungmin Ryu, Heejung Jung/Reuters