Washington: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called on U.S. President Donald Trump to play a "peacemaker" role to open a "new path" for peace on the Korean Peninsula, as the American leader voiced hope to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year during his first in-person talks with Lee on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee and Trump underlined their shared desire to reengage with Pyongyang at the White House summit, which appeared to have proceeded in a cordial manner despite concerns about Trump's abrupt pre-summit social media post seen as critical of the new South Korean government.
During their 140-minute meeting, including a luncheon, the leaders discussed security, trade, engagement with North Korea and other issues amid expectations that their sit-down would affect the future trajectory of the bilateral alliance at a time when Washington focuses on deterring China.
"I would like to mention that the only remaining divided nation in the world is the Korean Peninsula, and I would like to ask for your role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee said.
Lee also noted recent statements by Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, who said the personal ties between Trump and Kim are "not bad" -- a sign that Pyongyang has not completely ruled out dialogue with Washington as long as talks do not touch on its nuclear program.
Reiterating his desire for dialogue with Pyongyang, Trump said he hopes to meet the North Korean leader this year. Since the start of his second term in January, speculation has persisted that he would seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim, which led to three in-person meetings between them.
Lee noted the Korean Peninsula was "very stable" during Trump's first term, while underlining that conditions have deteriorated in recent years as the North has expanded its nuclear and missile programs.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in the shipbuilding sector as the Trump administration seeks to rebuild the industry in the face of China's overwhelming shipbuilding capacities. Lee praised the renaissance in U.S. manufacturing and expressed hope for cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. in this process.
During trade negotiations, Seoul proposed a "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" project, which includes constructing new shipyards in the U.S., nurturing shipbuilding personnel, and reestablishing related supply chains. On the project, Trump said it would "take a while" to implement.
Lee and Trump also expressed their support for trilateral cooperation with Japan, emphasizing the importance of Korea-Japan relations for the Korea-U.S. relationship.
Asked about American troops in Korea, Trump also said that he wants to ask Seoul to give the U.S. "ownership" of land the Asian ally has leased to host U.S. military bases on its soil.
Just hours before the summit, Trump issued a statement on social media apparently criticizing the new Seoul government, referencing ongoing special counsel investigations into former President Yoon Suk Yeol. However, Trump later clarified that he believed it to be a misunderstanding.