Seoul’s Balancing Act: Lee Woos Xi for NK Help Amid US Alliance

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is walking a diplomatic tightrope, hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping for a major summit just days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee’s primary goal for Xi’s visit was to secure Beijing’s help in restarting talks with a defiant North Korea.
In Gyeongju, Lee told Xi he was “very positive” about conditions for engagement, asking China to help resume dialogue. Xi, in turn, called South Korea an “inseparable cooperative partner.” The leaders signed seven agreements, including a currency swap, and Xi called for cooperation on AI and green industries.
This meeting follows a visit from President Trump, where a surprise deal was announced to lower U.S. tariffs in exchange for South Korean investment. South Korea is a key U.S. military ally, a fact underscored by the 2017 deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system, which led to Chinese economic restrictions that were also discussed by Lee and Xi.
Despite Lee’s efforts, North Korea remains defiant, dismissing the denuclearisation agenda as a “pipe dream.” Pyongyang has explicitly stated it will not talk to Seoul, which it calls its “main enemy,” though it has left the door ajar for talks with the U.S. if denuclearisation is off the table.
The delicate balancing act is also visible on Seoul’s streets. As Lee and Xi met, hundreds of protesters held an anti-China rally, chanting “China Out.” The rally proceeded despite a recent crackdown by Lee on such protests, which he claims harm the nation’s economy.