South Korean president seeks peace on Korean peninsula in China

South Korean President Yi Dae-myung on Sunday kicked off a state visit to China to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. His trip began just hours after North Korea fired ballistic missiles, raising regional tensions again.

It is his first visit to China since taking office last June. The visit comes at a time of heightened global tensions following Pyongyang's aggressive actions and the United States' attack on Venezuela.

Il Dae-myung arrived in Beijing with a delegation of more than 200 South Korean business leaders.

The South Korean president is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It will be their second meeting in two months, which analysts say is unusual and indicates China's strong interest in boosting economic cooperation and tourism.

Seoul-based Professor Lim Eul-chul said North Korea's missile launch was a signal for China to abandon closer relations with South Korea and take into account its stance on denuclearisation.

(reuters, max)