Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Wang Yi Visits South Korea Amid Renewed North Korea Diplomacy
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited South Korea for important talks.
He was expected to meet President Lee Jae Myung and other South Korean officials.
The discussions were set to cover relations between China and South Korea, regional issues and the Korean Peninsula.
The visit happened after the United States and South Korea reduced the size of their joint military exercises.
President Donald Trump said he supported the changes because of his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump also indicated he might meet Kim again.
China said that keeping peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula was in everyone’s interest.
South Korea also wants to arrange a meeting between Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.
That meeting could happen during the APEC summit in Shenzhen.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Seoul for talks with South Korean officials.
Wang is scheduled to meet President Lee Jae Myung and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.
Wang and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun are expected to discuss bilateral ties, peninsula issues and regional affairs.
The visit follows scaled-back U.S.-South Korean military drills amid Donald Trump’s efforts to resume talks with Kim Jong Un.
South Korea is pursuing a possible Lee-Xi Jinping summit at the APEC summit in Shenzhen later this year.
- Who
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
- What
- Wang Yi is holding talks with South Korean officials on bilateral relations, Korean Peninsula issues and regional affairs.
- When
- Wang arrived in Seoul on Wednesday, August 19; meetings were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with a possible summit later in November.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea; a possible Lee-Xi summit is expected at the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China.
- Why
- The talks come amid scaled-back U.S.-South Korean military drills and renewed efforts by Trump to revive diplomacy with North Korea.
- Visiting official
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
- South Korean president
- Lee Jae Myung
- Scheduled meetings
- Wang was due to meet Lee Jae Myung, Wi Sung-lac and Cho Hyun.
- Main topics
- Bilateral ties, Korean Peninsula issues and regional affairs
- Military drills
- The United States and South Korea scaled back joint military exercises.
- China’s stated position
- China said peace, stability and a political settlement on the Korean Peninsula serve the common interests of all parties.
- Possible future summit
- South Korea is pursuing a meeting between Lee Jae Myung and Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Shenzhen later this year.