South Korea’s Moon Jae-in will meet with China’s Xi Jinping over U.S. missile-defence system

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of – South Korea says its president will hold summit talks next week with Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to improve ties strained over the deployment of a U.S. missile-defence system.

Senior presidential official Nam Gwan-pyo told a televised briefing Tuesday that President Moon Jae-in and Xi will talk on the sidelines of an annual regional forum in Vietnam next week.

READ MORE: U.S. promises ‘ironclad’ commitment to South Korea with show of force against North

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Lee says the agreement is part of efforts by the two countries to put bilateral ties on a normal track.

WATCH: U.S. looking to pressure North Korea alongside Russia, China, and Japan

0:53 U.S. looking to pressure North Korea alongside Russia, China, and Japan

In response to the missile-defence system’s deployment, China has issued angry rhetoric and South Korean businesses operating in China have suffered economic retaliation.

China believes the system poses a threat to its own security. Seoul and Washington say it is purely aimed at defending South Korea against North Korean threats.