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Xi Jinping Gifts Xiaomi Phones to South Korea’s President With Security Joke

  • On Nov 1, China's President Xi Jinping presented two Xiaomi smartphones with Korean-made displays to Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea, in Gyeongju during the APEC summit.
  • Lee's spokesman Kim Nam-joon said the joke was possible because the two leaders had developed `personal chemistry` over two days of encounters, with multiple events giving repeated engagement opportunities.
  • The leaders traded lines about device security; Lee asked, `Is the communication line secure?` and Xi replied, `You should check if there is a backdoor,` prompting laughter.
  • Online users reacted strongly to the exchange as a clip went viral on YouTube, attracting more than 800 comments and heavy media coverage in Seoul, including a Seoul Shinmun headline on Monday.
  • Lee has not ruled out using the gifted phones, which were presented for him and his wife, and spokesman Kim Nam-joon said using them remains possible.
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The Independent broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
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