North Korea Nuclear Response, Yoon Leads Pressure on China with ROK-US-Japan Cooperation (Comprehensive)

Yoon Holds Korea-China Summit with Premier Li Chang, Highest-Level Face-to-Face Meeting in Ten Months
51-Minute Talks Confirm Korea-China Commitment to 'Economic' Cooperation
Yoon: "Hope North Korea Issue Does Not Become an Obstacle in Korea-China Relations"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 7th (local time) to Chinese Premier Li Qiang that "I hope the North Korean issue does not become an obstacle in Korea-China relations." He appeared to pressure China by urging a responsible role regarding the North Korean nuclear issue and emphasizing the necessity of strengthening Korea-US·Japan trilateral cooperation. However, regarding the Korea-Japan-China summit, they confirmed their willingness to cooperate with each other.

President Yoon held a Korea-China summit with Premier Li Qiang at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Indonesia that afternoon, where these discussions took place, according to Kim Tae-hyo, the First Director of the National Security Office, who briefed locally. President Yoon and Premier Li Qiang held the meeting from 3:25 PM for a total of 51 minutes.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Korea-China summit held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Indonesia on the 7th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

During the summit, both sides agreed on the necessity of Korea-China cooperation and shared the recognition to promote mutual interests and build a relationship of trust under the principle of good-neighborliness. Premier Li Qiang also conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Yoon.

However, President Yoon raised opinions on sensitive issues such as the North Korean problem. Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, he said, "The more the North Korean nuclear issue worsens, the more Korea-US-Japan cooperation inevitably strengthens," and added, "I hope China will sincerely take a responsible role in this matter." Essentially, President Yoon requested China’s participation in sanctions against North Korea, adding, "Even if problems exist in Korea-China relations, they can be resolved through frequent meetings, exchanges, and dialogue."

Earlier, at the ASEAN+3 summit the previous day, President Yoon had requested, "I ask for your attention and cooperation in blocking the dispatch of overseas workers, a major funding source for North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and illegal cyber activities."

Regarding the economic sector, they confirmed the intention that if transactions are conducted faithfully within the norms and frameworks of the market economy and the global free trade order, predictable investment and exchange activities can be carried out mutually. The presidential office explained, "This can be interpreted to mean that if the norms agreed upon multilaterally and established as practices in the international community are well observed, many issues between Korea and China can be reduced." For President Yoon, who must also monitor the domestic economic situation, this was a point confirming economic cooperation ties with China, Korea’s largest trading partner.

President Yoon evaluated Premier Li Qiang, who previously held the Party Secretary positions in Jiangsu Province and Shanghai City, as having great affection for Korea-China corporate and economic exchanges through active interaction with Korean companies, and requested that he contribute significantly to Korea-China exchange and cooperation while emphasizing the market and openness. It is known that Premier Li Qiang proposed accelerating the second Korea-China FTA (Free Trade Agreement) negotiations through this meeting to enhance openness and establish an upgraded free trade agreement between the two countries.

Additionally, the possibility of holding the Korea-Japan-China summit within the year was raised. President Yoon requested, "As the chair country, please cooperate so that the Korea-Japan-China summit can be held in Korea as soon as possible," and Premier Li Qiang responded, "We will actively respond." Currently, the likelihood of holding the trilateral summit has increased after President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to improve bilateral relations. Recently, the three countries also formed a consensus to reactivate high-level consultative bodies.

However, the diplomatic stance of the Yoon administration toward China has become clearer as distinct from the previous administration. At the ASEAN+3 summit the previous day, President Yoon said, "We intend to closely communicate with the Japanese and Chinese governments to resume trilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Korea-Japan-China summit, as soon as possible." He mentioned the countries in the order of "Korea-Japan-China," not the usual "Korea-China-Japan" as commonly referred to by Koreans. This is interpreted as emphasizing that starting with improving Korea-Japan relations and institutionalizing Korea-US-Japan cooperation, closer cooperation with the US and Japan based on shared values and freedom is being realized under President Yoon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.