South Korea should maintain good relations with China to make progress in denuclearizing North Korea, progressive presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung argued in a Foreign Affairs essay published Wednesday.

Lee also harshly criticized his conservative rival Yoon Suk-yeol for allegedly stoking fear in South Korea by supporting a “preemptive strike” against Pyongyang. South Korean politicians often pen English-language opinion pieces for news outlets abroad ahead of elections to share their foreign policy views and build a reputation with international audiences.

“The thorniest problem facing the Republic of Korea is North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The Kim Jong Un regime’s recent