Particle.news
Download on the App Store
8 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Lee and Xi Revive High‑Level Ties With 14 Accords as Questions Linger on North Korea

The lack of a communique underscores a constrained reset signaled by muted Beijing messaging.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung listens to a reporter’s question during a press conference to mark the first anniversary of the December 3, 2024, martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, December 3, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Image
Image
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (R) and China's President Xi Jinping (C) inspect honour guards during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 5

Overview

  • The leaders agreed to resume regular top‑level, foreign and defense consultations and oversaw 14 memorandums of understanding spanning trade, technology, environment and cultural exchange.
  • No joint statement followed the meeting, and while Seoul said both sides voiced interest in Korean Peninsula stability, China’s readout did not mention North Korea.
  • Talks included potential easing of China’s unofficial curbs on Korean entertainment linked to the Thaad dispute, with Xi’s remarks interpreted by Seoul as favoring a gradual approach.
  • Seoul raised concerns over Chinese maritime structures in the Yellow Sea’s provisional zone, and both sides directed the matter to working‑level handling.
  • Lee continued his visit in Shanghai to build on the summit outcomes, as the presidential office highlighted improved market sentiment with the Kospi crossing 4,500 on the day of the meeting.