Lee Jae-myung's Call for 'Intervention in the Korean Peninsula' Rejects Xi Jinping, Wi Seong-rak Alters 'North Korea Dialogue'

Lee Jae-myung's Call for 'Intervention in the Korean Peninsula' Rejects Xi Jinping, Wi Seong-rak Alters 'North Korea Dialogue'

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President Lee Jae-myung's call for 'intervention in the Korean Peninsula' was thwarted by Chinese President Xi Jinping's rejection, which avoided mentioning "North Korea on the Korean Peninsula" by insisting on the "separation of North and South Korea." National Security Office Director Wi Seong-rak altered the remarks to "confirm the resumption of dialogue between the two countries and North Korea."

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During the summit held on the evening of the 5th, President Lee stated, "We will explore feasible alternatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula," and requested China to play an active role in inter-Korean dialogue for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. However, President Xi did not use the terms "Korean Peninsula" or "North Korea" even once during the summit, instead limiting the scope of "bilateral diplomacy" to "regional peace" and "global development," stating, "China and South Korea bear a significant responsibility for safeguarding regional peace and promoting global development, and share a broad intersection of interests."

The South Korea-China summit that day was unusual in that it produced no agreement or joint statement, and a joint press conference was omitted. This appears to be a pre-planned move to postpone the summit to a later time and avoid a joint announcement altogether, anticipating a breakdown in the meeting.

​When asked on the 6th whether Beijing would welcome South Korea's cultural exports in the future, the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Reuters, "China and South Korea have agreed to carry out cultural exchanges in an orderly manner."

President Xi's remarks at the summit included, "The world is undergoing rapid changes not seen in a century, and the international situation is becoming increasingly complex. China and South Korea bear a significant responsibility for safeguarding regional peace and promoting global development, and share a wide range of interests. We must consider each other's core interests and major concerns and appropriately resolve differences through dialogue and consultation." Xinhua News Agency reported that day.

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Director Wi, in his summit briefing, altered the actual content, stating, "The two countries confirmed the need to resume dialogue with North Korea and agreed to continue exploring creative ways to ease tensions and build peace."

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In the briefing, Director Wi relayed President Lee's remarks, saying, "We primarily discussed inter-Korean relations. We will strive to further improve the current situation. Therefore, we hope that major neighboring countries will join us in this effort."

Director Wi specifically stated regarding President Xi's remarks, "China was appreciative of the measures we have taken to ease tensions. They are still playing that role, but their response was to play a constructive role," indirectly confirming that they had only listened to South Korea's position and had not mentioned North Korea at all.

Director Wi continued, "China suggested that we gradually expand cooperation in areas where it is possible through working-level negotiations. It is realistic to begin with areas where we can reach a common ground."

He added, "The two leaders agreed to expand communication and exchanges between defense authorities to ensure regional stability," describing the summit as "limited to diplomatic relations between China and South Korea."

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Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung altered the entire statement in her briefing, stating, "At this summit, we reaffirmed the understanding that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are mutually beneficial to both South Korea and China, and confirmed China's willingness to play a constructive role in this regard."

KBS reported on the 6th under the headline, "Blue House: South Korea-China leaders confirm importance of resuming dialogue with North Korea... Annual meeting consensus" that "During this meeting, the two leaders exchanged in-depth opinions on peace on the Korean Peninsula," and that "they confirmed the importance of resuming dialogue with North Korea and agreed to explore creative ways to build peace on the Korean Peninsula," according to the Blue House. KBS directly quoted National Security Office Director Wi Sung-rak's briefing as saying, "We reaffirmed the recognition that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is a common interest of both South Korea and China and confirmed China's willingness to play a constructive role in this regard."

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President Xi Jinping emphasized mutual respect and win-win outcomes as "valuable experience" for the long-term and stable development of China-Irish relations in his opening remarks at the Great Hall of the People on the 5th, according to a full media report. Later that afternoon, Xinhua News Agency reported that he made the same remark to President Lee regarding his summit with him. During the summit, President Lee addressed China's most sensitive issue regarding South Korea, "Taiwan intervention," replacing it with a CCTV interview from before his visit to China.

In the interview, President Lee confined his remarks to his personal views, stating, "I respect the one-China principle." He then called for "stability and peace in Taiwan," expressing his opposition to China's recently concluded military exercises surrounding Taiwan. This appears to be a foreshadowing of the collapse of the summit agreement.

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On the 6th, President Lee addressed Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, saying, "Through our summit with President Xi Jinping the previous day, we agreed to maturely develop the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership based on political trust and friendly private sector confidence." He described the relationship as "maturely developing."
In contrast, the Chairman of the Standing Committee stated, "Under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, ROK-China relations have returned to normal and entered a new phase." He added, "China will faithfully implement the shared understanding between the two leaders and deepen communication and cooperation to jointly lead the stable development of the strategic cooperative partnership."

President Lee then addressed the issue of "epochal development" with Premier Li Qiang at a luncheon, saying, "I hope we can exchange opinions candidly, like long-time friends, on the direction of bilateral relations, and that this will become a turning point for the epochal advancement of ROK-China relations." On the other hand, Prime Minister Lee stated that "under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, we can deepen cooperation in various fields to bring greater welfare to the people of both countries," changing "cooperation in various fields" to "welfare for the people."

At the summit, President Xi Jinping told President Lee that "we should consider each other's core interests and major concerns and properly resolve differences of opinion through dialogue and consultation," which is a stark contrast to President Lee's remarks about a "mature development consensus."

 

The Associated Press (AP) reported on the 6th, under the headline "China, South Korea Pledge to Strengthen Relations Amid Rising Regional Tensions," that "Chinese and South Korean leaders pledged to promote trade and safeguard regional stability during the South Korean president's visit to Beijing on the 5th, a visit overshadowed by North Korea's recent ballistic missile tests."

The AP continued, "President Lee Jae-myung met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first four-day visit to China since taking office in June." "When Xi Jinping hosted Lee at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese leader emphasized that both countries "share important responsibilities in maintaining regional peace and promoting global development," according to a summary of the meeting broadcast by state-run CCTV. President Lee said he would open "a new chapter in the development of Sino-South Korean relations" in "changing times."

"The two countries should jointly contribute to promoting peace, which is the foundation of prosperity and growth," the AP reported, adding, "Last week, China conducted two days of large-scale military exercises around the island of (Taiwan) to warn against separatist forces and forces of "outside interference."

In his meeting with Lee, Xi Jinping cited China's historical rivalry with Japan and urged the two countries to "join hands to safeguard the fruits of victory in World War II and safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia." The AP continued, "China is a key ally of North Korea and provides an economic lifeline. In the past, China, along with Russia, has repeatedly blocked attempts by the United States and other countries to strengthen UN sanctions on North Korea."

The missile test came as Pyongyang criticized U.S. attacks on Venezuela, including the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro.

The AP also reported, "North Korea, which has long feared that the United States would attempt regime change in Pyongyang, condemned the attack as a brazen violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and an example of the "lawless and brutal nature of the United States." China condemned the U.S. attack, arguing that it violated international law and threatened peace in Latin America."

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President Lee's collapse of the early summit push appears to be China's response to his attempt in April to support the Trump Republican Party's November midterm elections by facilitating a 'North Korea-US Summit'.

See <Lee Jae-myung Calls for 'Taiwan Peace', Chung Dong-young Praises 'DPRK', Trump Supports 'US Election', January 3, 2026>

<Lee Jae-myung's Mistake of 'China's Deprivation of National Sovereignty' and 'Joint Response to Peace on the Korean Peninsula', January 6, 2026>

<Wei Song-rak Pressures China Summit on Military Nuclear Weapons: 'If Denuclearization Fails, Tensions Will Escalate, Harming China and Russia', January 2, 2026>

<Lee Jae-myung Tells Trump He Offers Nuclear Submarines to 'US Support for China Surveillance', Says Xi Jinping 'Northeast Asian Stability is in China's Interest', November 2, 2025>