South Korea's Lee says ties with Japan as important as relations with China

SEOUL, Jan 7 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday much progress was accomplished in restoring trust with China and that ties with Japan were equally as important as Seoul's relations with Beijing.

Lee, who held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, said Xi had commented that patience was needed when they discussed nuclear-armed North Korea. Lee was speaking to South Korean media in Shanghai with his remarks relayed live on television.