Lee “Positive” on NK Talks, Urges Xi to Seize “Favourable Conditions”

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed optimism about restarting talks with North Korea, telling Chinese President Xi Jinping he was “very positive” about “favourable conditions” for engagement. Lee urged Xi to help seize the moment during a state summit in Gyeongju.
Lee’s optimism is based on recent high-level exchanges between China and North Korea. He asked that the two countries “strengthen strategic communication to resume dialogue,” based on his phased plan for denuclearisation.
However, Lee’s hopes were immediately dashed by North Korea. In a statement on Saturday, Pyongyang dismissed the entire denuclearisation agenda as a “pipe dream” and restated its position of never talking to the South, which it now calls its “main enemy.”
President Xi, on his first visit in 11 years, focused on the bilateral partnership, calling Seoul “inseparable.” He signed seven economic agreements with Lee and called for cooperation on AI and green industries.
A South Korean national security adviser said China was willing to cooperate for peace, but Chinese state media made no mention of the North Korea discussions. Both leaders did agree that direct US-North Korea dialogue was the most important track for progress.