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China’s Xi Jinping and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung shared a rare public joke about spying after Xi gifted two Xiaomi phones in Gyeongju, quipping that Lee could check for a backdoor. A Seoul historian said the exchange nodded to surveillance concerns even as both leaders seek closer economic ties amid the Washington Beijing rivalry. Xiaomi earlier won removal from a US blacklist in court. At home, Lee faces conservative backlash over China ties. A security scholar said phones are uncommon diplomatic gifts for security reasons and doubted Lee would use them.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.