New york: President Lee Jae Myung is set to travel to New York next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where he will deliver an address and preside over an open debate of the U.N. Security Council, the presidential office announced Friday. This marks President Lee's first appearance at the annual global forum since assuming office in June.
According to Yonhap News Agency, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac informed reporters that President Lee's visit will last five days, beginning Monday. The visit aligns with South Korea's assumption of the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council for the month. President Lee is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the 80th session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, where he will declare the return of a democratic Republic of Korea, outline the government's diplomatic vision, and discuss South Korea's contributions to global peace and prosperity.
As the chair of the 15-member Security Council, President Lee will lead an open debate on Wednesday focusing on the implications of artificial intelligence for global peace and security. This will be the first time a South Korean president has presided over such a session.
On the sidelines of the multilateral forum, President Lee will engage in bilateral talks with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leaders from France, Italy, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, and Poland to explore practical cooperation. However, a formal one-on-one meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is not planned, though informal interactions may occur.
National Security Adviser Wi noted that no meeting between Lee and Trump is scheduled due to their recent summit in Washington and the potential for another meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea later in October. While trade negotiations with U.S. officials may be discussed, formal talks are not anticipated on the sidelines of the U.N. assembly.
Although Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to attend the U.N. session, Wi expressed hope for Xi's attendance at the APEC summit in South Korea, suggesting a bilateral summit may occur if Xi visits. Similarly, a separate meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is not planned, although ongoing exchanges will continue following their recent summit in Tokyo.
During his visit, President Lee is scheduled to meet with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to discuss collaboration in artificial intelligence and energy transformation. He will also engage with U.S. Congress members to garner support for strengthening bilateral ties and meet with Korean residents in the U.S. On Thursday, President Lee will participate in an investor relations session to present his government's economic policies and attract investment in the Korean market.