South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to play an active role in helping curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, suggesting that a freeze of Pyongyang’s programme in return for incentives could be a practical starting point.
Lee made the remarks while speaking to journalists in Shanghai at the conclusion of his visit to China — the first by a South Korean leader to Beijing in six years. During the trip, he held talks with President Xi on Monday, a day after nuclear-armed North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
The South Korean president said he had urged Beijing to use its influence to help bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, noting that communication channels between the two Koreas are currently at a standstill.
“I asked China to play a mediating role on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea’s nuclear programme,” Lee said. “At present, all channels of dialogue are completely blocked. We hope China can serve as a mediator — a mediator for peace.”
According to Lee, President Xi responded by advising Seoul to show “patience” towards Pyongyang, given how badly relations between North and South Korea have deteriorated in recent years. Lee acknowledged this point, admitting that past military activities by South Korea and its allies may have been perceived by the North as threatening.
“For a long time, we conducted military actions that North Korea likely saw as hostile,” Lee said.
The South Korean leader also outlined a proposal under which North Korea would agree to freeze its nuclear programme in exchange for what he described as “compensation.” He said such a step, while limited, would still represent meaningful progress.
“Even maintaining the current level — no further production of nuclear weapons, no transfer of nuclear materials overseas, and no additional development of intercontinental ballistic missiles — would already be a significant gain,” Lee said.However, he stressed that a freeze would only be an interim measure and not the final goal.
“In the long run, we must not abandon the objective of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula,” he added.Lee said he had asked Beijing to convey these ideas directly to Pyongyang and noted that there was broad agreement with China on the need to pursue dialogue and stability on the peninsula.