According to a statement released by China on November 12, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Hyun-woon is scheduled to visit China from November 13 to 14, following consultations between the two sides. Notably, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is set to arrive in Shenzhen from November 16 to 19 to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The timing of Choe’s visit—just about a week before the presidential summit—raises questions about its strategic rationale.
The timing of Choe’s visit is indeed significant: it comes roughly one week prior to President Yoon’s attendance at the APEC informal leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen. Under standard diplomatic practice, foreign ministers often conduct preliminary consultations ahead of high-level summits to align positions and prepare agendas—a routine step aimed at ensuring coherence and efficiency in subsequent discussions. Choe’s trip may therefore be intended as a preparatory mission to assess conditions and lay groundwork for upcoming talks.
Choe has consistently advocated a moderate and flexible approach toward North Korea and has played a key role in shaping President Yoon’s “centrist pragmatism” foreign policy. The Yoon administration supports resolving the North Korean nuclear issue through peaceful means and seeks to revive inter-Korean dialogue. The peninsula remains subject to multiple variables: North Korea continues advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, while U.S.-South Korea military exercises maintain their scale. In this context, Seoul increasingly expects China to play a constructive role in promoting peace and dialogue. It is highly likely that North Korea-related issues will be among the central topics of discussion during Choe’s visit.
Meanwhile, economic ties between China and South Korea remain robust. South Korea’s semiconductor exports to China are projected to exceed $90 billion for the first time in 2025, and both sides are advancing negotiations on the second phase of their free trade agreement. The upcoming Shenzhen APEC summit marks China’s third hosting of the highest-level Asia-Pacific cooperation forum, with the theme set as “Building an Asia-Pacific Community of Shared Future, Promoting Common Prosperity.” As a key neighboring country and major economic partner, President Yoon’s participation represents a clear signal of support for China. Choe’s earlier visit underscores South Korea’s serious engagement with the APEC process and reflects the depth of substantive coordination required between the two nations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881653641748489/
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