South Korean media say that President Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed his displeasure with the Chinese ambassador's "inappropriate" comment apparently referring to Seoul's policy of promoting ties with the United States.

China's Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming said that those who bet on the US to win and China to lose would regret it. He made the remark in talks with the leader of South Korea's largest opposition party last Thursday.

The comment is thought to have been an expression of discontent with the Yoon administration's policy of boosting ties with Washington.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that Yoon questioned in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday whether the envoy has an attitude of mutual respect or promoting friendship. Yoon was quoted as saying that the South Korean people are offended by the ambassador's "inappropriate behavior."

A senior official of the presidential office also condemned the ambassador's remark amid the widening rift between the countries. He said Seoul is waiting for the Chinese side to carefully consider the problem and to take "appropriate measures."

Last Friday, South Korea's foreign ministry lodged a protest with Xing. The following day, Beijing summoned the South Korean ambassador to China to express "serious concern and dissatisfaction" over what it called Seoul's "improper response."