Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has a special request for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He wants help dealing with his neighbor, North Korea.

The two met in South Korea at the Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in Gyeongju. This was also Xi's first visit to South Korea in 11 years.

Lee has sought to reduce tensions with North Korea since taking office last June, while also working to strengthen ties with his ally, the United States.

Specifically regarding China, Lee also expressed his desire to avoid hostility and to strengthen communication between the two countries.

"It's very positive that conditions with North Korea are starting to take shape," Lee said, referring to the recent summit between North Korea and China, as quoted by Reuters, Saturday (1/11/2025).

"I also hope that South Korea and China can take advantage of this favorable situation to strengthen strategic communication and continue dialogue with North Korea," he added.

China also attaches great importance to its relationship with South Korea. Before the meeting, Xi also referred to Seoul as a working partner.

North Korea is known to be a fairly close ally of China. Recently, Kim Jong Un's government rejected South Korea's proposed denuclearization agenda.

They even called the request an empty dream, meaning it would never come true. This isn't North Korea's first refusal.

Pyeongyang has repeatedly rejected its neighbor's offers and assured that there will be no talks between the two countries.

The proposed phased approach begins with engagement and a freeze on future nuclear weapons development.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un confirmed he was willing to talk with the United States (US), provided it dropped its demands for denuclearization.

Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung look at each other during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, November 1, 2025. (via REUTERS/YONHAP NEWS AGENCY)Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung look at each other during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, November 1, 2025. (Yonhap via REUTERS)