China’s top legislator to meet S. Korea leaders for talks

By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — China’s top legislator is to meet South Korean leaders including new President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, as Yoon’s push to buttress a military alliance with Washington has caused concerns that it could hamper Seoul’s ties with Beijing. Li Zhanshu, one of President Xi Jinping’s closest confidants, is the highest-level Chinese official to visit South Korea since his predecessor came here in 2015. Key topics for discussions Friday will likely be Seoul’s plans to ensure a more stable operation of a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea which China views as a security threat and a Chinese role in curbing North Korean nuclear threats.