South Korea's Lee to meet China foreign minister in Seoul

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Seoul on Thursday, Lee's office said, with talks expected to cover relations between the two countries and the regional situation.

The presidential Blue House said Lee would discuss the future direction of South Korea-China relations, the regional situation and convey greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Wang will also hold talks and have lunch with South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and meet Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The Blue House said Wang and Wi would discuss South Korea-China ties and regional and global issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The visit comes after US President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his recent overtures and praised his relationship with Kim. Trump also announced on Sunday that he had ordered the Pentagon to scale back what he called “inappropriate and hostile” military drills with South Korea.

China is a key diplomatic and economic backer of North Korea, while also remaining South Korea's largest trading partner.

Lee proposed talks with North Korea at the weekend to formally end the Korean War. In July, Seoul's unification minister said South Korea had shifted from prioritising denuclearisation to halting the expansion of Pyongyang's nuclear activities.