South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal for a “phased approach” to North Korean denuclearisation was immediately dismissed as a “pipe dream” by Pyongyang. The rejection came as Lee was personally appealing to Chinese President Xi Jinping for help in advancing the plan.
Lee’s strategy, which he detailed to Xi during a state summit in Gyeongju, calls for engagement and a freeze on further nuclear weapons development as a starting point. Lee, elected in June, has sought to reduce tensions with the North while strengthening ties with the U.S. and maintaining a stable relationship with China.
North Korea’s statement on Saturday was a flat rejection of Lee’s overtures. Pyongyang has recently abandoned its unification policy, labeled the South its “main enemy,” and stated it will never engage in dialogue with the Lee administration.
President Xi’s visit, his first to the U.S. ally in 11 years, focused on partnership. He told Lee that Beijing “attaches great importance” to relations with Seoul. However, Chinese state media reports on the meeting did not mention the North Korea issue, focusing instead on economic cooperation and mutual respect for “development paths.”
The backdrop to the summit includes other major players. U.S. President Donald Trump had visited Seoul earlier in the week, announcing a trade breakthrough before departing ahead of the main APEC summit. Both Seoul and Beijing agreed that U.S.-North Korea dialogue remains the most important track.