Yoon to Speak to Xi on the Phone

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the phone on Friday. This will be the first time Xi has had a telephone conversation with a South Korean president-elect since he rose to the top office in March 2013.

Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for Yoon, told reporters Thursday that their phone conversation will take place "this week." She added that it was unprecedented for Xi to speak to a foreign leader before he takes office.

Yoon has already spoken with the leaders of the U.S. and Japan.

Yoon and Xi are expected to touch on the rapidly changing security situation on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, as well as an emerging cold war between the U.S. and China.

"The need for a phone call arises from our close cooperation with China on Asia-Pacific and Korean Peninsula issues and new South Korea-China relations that will be sought by the Yoon administration at a time when North Korea is raising military tensions," Kim said.