As the Japanese army marched close to Pyongyang, Sonjo fled to Uiju in Pyeongan Province located at the north end and on the border of Liaodong and asked Ming for help based on sakuho (homage by Chinese emperors).
日本軍の進撃が平壌に迫ると宣祖は遼東との国境である北端の平安道・義州へと逃亡し、冊封に基づいて明に救援を要請する。