South Korean President Park Geun-hye has accepted Beijing’s invitation to celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war, as Seoul continues delicate efforts to balance its vital relationships with China and the US.

The question of Ms Park’s attendance had been vigorously debated in South Korea. A broad consensus formed among lawmakers and media that she should go to Beijing next month to reinforce ties with China — by far the country’s biggest trading partner — despite the risk of unsettling Washington, where Beijing’s increasing military clout has sparked alarm.

Ms Park becomes the second leader of a US ally to accept Beijing’s invitation, after the Czech Republic. As of August 13, the leaders of just eight other countries had accepted: Russia, Egypt, Serbia, Mongolia and four central Asian nations.