South Korean Prez says will stand together with US but need to manage ties with China
South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung is navigating tricky global waters, vowing to stick close to longtime ally the United States while carefully handling ties with China. In a recent interview with TIME magazine, Lee stressed that Seoul wants to avoid becoming a flashpoint in the escalating US-China rivalry.
“We’ll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the US in this new global order and in US-centered supply chains,” Lee said. But he added a crucial caveat: South Korea must manage its relationship with China to prevent any hard feelings. Without that balance, the country risks turning into the “front line of a battle between two blocs.”
Lee, marking his first 100 days in office, explained that South Korea’s old playbook—leaning on the US for security and China for economic growth—no longer works amid today’s shifting geopolitics. Instead, he envisions Seoul as a “bridge” between the two superpowers, helping to ease tensions in this era of great power competition.
Strengthening the US-South Korea alliance is a top priority, but it’s not without hurdles. Recent issues include a tough immigration crackdown on South Korean workers building a battery plant in Georgia, plus ongoing trade talks. South Korea has pledged a massive $350 billion investment in the US, hoping to cut American tariffs to 15%. Lee called the negotiations “tense,” revealing that US demands were so tough he joked, “If I agreed, I’d be impeached!” He pushed back, asking for a more reasonable deal.
On the North Korea front, Lee outlined a fresh approach to denuclearization. He supports easing or lifting some UN sanctions in exchange for Pyongyang freezing its nuclear and missile programs. This fits into a three-stage plan: first, suspension; then, reduction; and finally, full denuclearization.
“Our short-term goal is to halt their nuclear and missile activities,” Lee told TIME. We could offer compensation for that, then move to disarmament and complete denuclearization.” He believes former US President Donald Trump would agree, emphasizing the need for “middle ground” through talks. Past strategies of pure pressure via sanctions, he argued, just won’t cut it anymore.
“Why would North Korea stop if we just tell them to?” Lee asked. “If we keep up the current pressure, they’ll just make more bombs.” North Korea has faced strict UN sanctions since 2017 over its weapons programs, but reports suggest it’s getting food and aid from Russia in return for sending troops and equipment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Lee’s balanced stance highlights South Korea’s push for stability in a volatile world, blending strong US ties with smart diplomacy toward China and North Korea.
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