THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

G7 Summit: Is South Korea Being Passed Over? - JAPAN Forward South Korea faces growing unease over diplomatic sidelining and tense US ties as the G7 ends without Lee meeting with Donald Trump. Leaders pose for a group photo at the G7 Summit in Canada (©Government of Canada) As the two-day G7 Summit wraps up in Canada, South Korea is facing renewed fears of diplomatic marginalization. On June 16, Seoul officials were caught off guard when they learned, via a breaking news report, that President Donald Trump would be leaving the summit a day early. The announcement came despite a planned meeting between Trump and South Korea's newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung , on the sidelines of the international forum. That South Korean side was not informed in advance through official channels has raised eyebrows. It is irregular for a foreign leader to abruptly cancel a meeting without prior consultation, and even more so for the other party to learn of it through the media. Seoul had anticipated holding the bilateral talks on June 17. While Trump's early departure, reportedly due to escalating Israel-Iran tensions, may appear understandable, it's reigniting a deeper anxiety in South Kor…

The Korean Peninsula Has Seen Grand Overtures Come and Go - What ... Facebook Twitter Email Print For decades, US policy toward North Korea has ranged from bombast to paralysis. The Trump-Kim summits marked a rare moment of high-level diplomacy, but with little lasting progress. Today, with signs that the United States may be preparing for renewed engagement with the North, the challenge is not how to go big, but how to begin wisely. Conditions on the Korean Peninsula demand a fresh strategic approach. North Korea’s nuclear arsenal has grown significantly in both scale and sophistication. At the same time, strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific has intensified, coordination between North Korea and its authoritarian partners has deepened, and political uncertainties have raised new questions about the cohesion of the US-ROK alliance. The risks are growing too fast for diplomacy to remain on pause. Should the United States choose to reengage the North, rather than chasing a sweeping agreement, it should focus on building a more stable relationship through small, concrete steps: practical measures that reduce military tensions and manage hostile relations . This approach offers a …

(URGENT) Trump vows to play role in advancing Korean Peninsula issues in talks with Lee at G7 summit: official (END)

South Korea as 'Pacemaker' in US-North Korea Relations | Chicago ... In a meeting with Trump, South Korea’s president named his intention for the nation to serve as the beating heart of diplomatic relations in the region. There were many ways the August 25 summit between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung could have gone wrong. Just hours before, Trump cast a cloud over the scheduled meeting when he posted on Truth Social that South Korea might be undergoing a “Purge or Revolution,” sending South Korean officials scrambling and prompting concern that a Zelenskyy-style Oval Office blowup could be in the offing. Instead, the two leaders seemed to strike an easy rapport, and Lee Jae Myung framed his country as the “pacemaker” to Trump’s “peacemaker” in a remark that should help reshape how we think about South Korea’s foreign policy in the coming years. Lee’s remark was more than just a clever play on words. South Korea officialdom has worried about the United States and North Korea meeting bilaterally and cutting Seoul out of the process—a concern referred to as “Korea Passing” in Korean media. By framing South Korea as a “pacemaker,” Lee stressed t…

South Korea's Response to U.S. Demands: Minimize Risk ... - CSIS Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images Commentary byVictor Cha Published October 6, 2025 This commentary is part of a report from the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department entitledNavigating Disruption: Ally and Partner Responses to U.S. Foreign Policy. Digital Feature— October 6, 2025 For the Republic of Korea (ROK, or South Korea), the recent paradigm shift in U.S. policy and alliance relations has been magnified due to an uncanny confluence between South Korea’s domestic political crisis and the speed and force with which President Donald Trump has organized the U.S. government to implement his wishes. Unlike other U.S. allies and partners, however, South Korean leaders have contended with these changes not by resisting, but by embracing them—making agreements that appease their ally while laying the groundwork for new areas of cooperation. This “let’s make a deal” attitude has prevailed for two reasons. First, allies in Asia, including Japan and South Korea, still operate in a bilateral hub-and-spokes context with the United States, rather than as a group like the European Union, t…

Experts advise 'cautious optimism' - The Korea Times By Lee Min-hyung South Korea should maintain a “cautiously optimistic” stance with North Korea’s rare signal for peace talks with the United States, as the decision apparently came amid stern international sanctions on the regime, experts said Friday. “It is too early for South Korea to discuss whether the arranged summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will help ease tension on the Korean Peninsula,” said Lee Jin-gon, professor of political science at Kyung Hee University. “My view is that Kim offered the peace gesture to his U.S. counterpart as a last resort to overcome the regime’s internal crisis.” No one can guarantee that Kim Jong-un’s promise for the regime’s denuclearization is sincere, and chances are that Pyongyang can suddenly break the promise again, according to the expert. This could make all the months-long efforts South Korea has made to enhance inter-Korean relations futile, he said. “South Korea and the U.S. should thoroughly and clearly express their will to denuclearize the peninsula not to repeat a similar scenario of the past few decades,” he said. “But it is tru…

SUMMIT Lee, Trump agree to deepen industrial ties, highlighting ... President Lee Jae Myung speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump during a summit at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., Monday. Yonhap WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to expand cooperation in both manufacturing and security during their first summit in Washington, Monday. During their meeting in the Oval Office, Trump highlighted the shipbuilding sector, signaling his intention to attract South Korean technology and investments to U.S.-based production. "Now we're going to be buying ships from South Korea. But we're also going to have them make ships here with our people, using our people. And we're going to go back into the shipbuilding business again," Trump said. His remarks echoed a shipbuilding investment initiative, dubbed “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” (MASGA) by South Korean officials, which is tied to the ongoing tariff and investment negotiations between the two countries. Lee welcomed the proposal, stressing that South Korea seeks to contribute not only to shipbuilding but also to the broader revival of American industry…

Negotiating with North Korea in the Shadow of Great Power Rivalry Join War on the Rocks and gain access to content trusted by policymakers, military leaders, and strategic thinkers worldwide. The United States and South Korea have converged on the idea of dialogue with North Korea. But can it work? Will it? U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedhis intention to meet North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, while Elbridge Colby, the current undersecretary of defense for policy, expressed support in December 2024 for focusing on “limiting the range of North Korean [intercontinental ballistic missiles].” During the recent U.S.-South Korean summit in late August, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung also asked Trump to playa role in making peace in the Korean Peninsula, including efforts to hold a future U.S.-North Korean summit. The United States and South Korea agreed to pursuethe denuclearizationof North Korea in a phased manner. In response, Pyongyang hasrejected the phased denuclearization proposal, insisting that an essential condition for negotiation with the United States is its acceptance ofNorth Korea’s status as a nuclear power. After Trump and Lee announced their inte…

US pressure mounts on Seoul over Hormuz coalition May 5, 2026 SEOUL – South Korea’s review of a US-proposed maritime coalition in the Strait of Hormuz is a reflection of mounting pressure from Washington, with limited room for strategic advantage, experts said Monday. Seoul is weighing whether to join the Maritime Freedom Construct, a US-backed initiative aimed at restoring navigation through the strait, while also participating in parallel discussions led by the United Kingdom and France involving around 50 countries. According to Park Won-gon, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University, the existence of multiple tracks does not necessarily give South Korea leverage. “It’s hard to say this is an advantage in a broader sense,” Park said in a phone interview Monday. “The situation ultimately stems from pressure initiated by US President Donald Trump, and given that pressure, South Korea is in a position where it has to contribute in some way to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” Park cautioned that pressure from Washington is unlikely to ease, particularly as the US questions the effectiveness of multilateral efforts. “Trump has argued that the…

Joint Fact Sheet on President Donald J. Trump's ... - The White House President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (ROK) welcomed President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America (United States or U.S.) for a State Visit to ROK on October 29. This marks the first time in Korean history that a State Visit has been hosted in Gyeongju and follows on the two leaders’ first meeting in Washington on August 25. Notably, it is also the first time that the ROK has welcomed the same leader for a second state visit. In light of President Trump’s historic 2024 victory and President Lee’s election demonstrating the ROK’s democratic strength and resilience, they declared a new chapter in the U.S.-ROK Alliance, the linchpin for peace, security and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region. REBUILDING AND EXPANDING CRITICAL INDUSTRIES:  President Trump and President Lee reaffirmed the historic announcement in July of The Korea Strategic Trade and Investment deal, which reflects the strength and endurance of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET STABILITY:The United States and the ROK, in connection with their respective commitments included in the …

South Korea's Lee Jae-myung faces urgent task of engaging Trump - Nikkei Asia Economy set to dominate new president's tenure with US tariffs topping the agenda Throughout his campaign, newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung refrained from any confrontational statements about trade and defense in relation to the U.S., and emphasized "pragmatic diplomacy." (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters) SEOUL -- Following Lee Jae-myung's victory in South Korea's presidential election, the U.S. State Department issued a statement filled with standard phrases touting the "ironclad commitment" to the two countries' alliance and pledges to deepen three-way cooperation with Japan.

Lee attends G7 summit in Evian, has brief encounter with Trump President Lee Jae Myung, left, speaks to U.S. President Donald Trump, right, during a group photo session at a hotel in Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday, his first day attending the Group of Seven summit in the French town. Yonhap EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday and had a brief encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump during a photo session. Emmanuel Macron, president of host France, welcomed Lee to the summit venue. The South Korean president responded, "I am so happy," after Macron asked, "How are you?" During a subsequent group photo session for leaders of participating countries, Lee had a brief encounter with Trump for about 30 seconds, a livestream of the event showed. Lee and Trump were seen eagerly speaking to each other through who appeared to be an interpreter. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung later said in a briefing that Trump asked Lee about the latest developments in inter-Korean ties during the conversation. Lee asked Trump to spearhead a peaceful resolution of North Korean issues, …

(LEAD) Lee, Trump discuss cooperation on building U.S. military vessels during NATO dinner: spokesperson ANKARA, July 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. Preside...

Lee, Trump discuss cooperation on building U.S. military vessels during NATO dinner: spokesperson ANKARA, July 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. Preside...

The art of the alliance: 3 takeaways from the Trump-Lee summit | Brookings Commentary August 28, 2025 On Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in his first official visit to Washington. Just a few hours before the meeting, Trumppostedon social media, “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there.” In what seemed to be in reference to the prosecution of Lee’s predecessor and conservative rival whowas impeachedlast April forinvokingmartial law, Lee’s first meeting with Trumpappearedto be heading toward a train wreck. However, in his opening remarks, South Korea’s new leader immediatelyshoweredTrump with effusive praise. He lauded Trump’s penchant for peacemaking and called on Trump to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Overall, the Trump-Lee meeting was a success, especially for Lee. It reaffirmed seven decades of alliance partnership and shored up Lee’s legitimacy in the eyes of Washington policymakers. However, the meeting still left several issues wanting. Here are three questions and takeaways from the Trump-Lee meeting: The summit meeting came to fruition on…

Trump's initial warning to South Korea's Lee turns into warm welcome ... Visiting South Korean president Lee Jae Myung raises prospect of a Korean “Trump Tower” and golf in North Korea as he asks President Donald Trump “for your role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.” WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trumptook to social media before meeting with South Korean PresidentLee Jae Myungon Monday to threaten not to do business with Seoul because of a “Purge or Revolution” that he claimed was taking place in the country. But any prospect of a hostile Oval Office meeting evaporated after Lee heaped praise onto the U.S. president — lauding the decor, beseeching Trump to continue to help with Korean peace efforts and even suggesting a Trump Tower in North Korea. “We’ve known each other and gotten along very well,” Trump said, before adding: “It’s a great honor to be with you and congratulations on your election. That was a big one, and we’re with you 100%.” The cordial display showed how world leaders are taking notes from previous meetings between Trump and heads of state, who’ve largely chosen the route of praise and adulation rather than confrontation as they seek favora…

Trump: Optimistic on Korea, lauds Xi Jinping's 'great help' By ZHAO HUANXIN in Washington | China Daily USA | Updated: 2018-04-28 06:07 The Trump White House expressed cautious optimism over the outcome of the historic inter-Korean summit on Friday, saying "good things are happening" on the peninsula, while warning that its pressure campaign will continue unabated. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump lauded his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping's efforts on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, calling them a "great help". In their Friday summit at the border village of Panmunjom, the Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in and DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un agreed to pursue a permanent peace treaty and the complete denuclearization of their divided peninsula. "KOREAN WAR TO END!" Trump tweeted on Friday. "The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!" "Please do not forget the great help that my good friend, President Xi of China, has given to the United States, particularly at the Border of North Korea. Without him it would have been a much longer, tougher, process!" Trump said in another twee…

South Korea's Lee asks Trump to lead peaceful diplomacy with North Korea South Korea’s Lee asks Trump to lead peaceful diplomacy with North Korea Il presidente sudcoreano Lee chiede a Trump di guidare una diplomazia pacifica con la Corea del Nord Reuters 16.6.2026 U.S. President Donald Trump meets with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, October 29, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo ( Reuters ) FOTO D’ARCHIVIO: Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump incontra il presidente sudcoreano Lee Jae Myung a margine del vertice dei leader dell’Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) a Gyeongju, in Corea del Sud, il 29 ottobre 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Foto d’archivio ( Reuters ) pubblicità Condividi Stampa Copia link Email Facebook X Telegram LinkedIn Whatsapp Whatsapp Reddit Traduci in italiano Questa notizia è stata tradotta con DeepL per consentirti di leggere subito in italiano il notiziario della Reuters. Nessuna traduzione automatica è perfetta né può sostituire i traduttori umani. Per saperne di più SEOUL, June…

Understanding Trump's Latest Tariff Threat Against South Korea U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral meeting with South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung in the Oval Office, Aug. 25, 2025. In a late January post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled his intent to raise tariffs on South Korea to25 percent, claiming Seoul had not lived up to its end of the South Korea-U.S. trade agreement reached last year. While Trump suggested that this was because the South Korean National Assembly had not yet passed needed legislation, there has been speculation that he might have other motives. Some analysts havepointed to a disputebetween the United States and South Korea over the U.S. firm Coupang. Last year, Coupang suffered a data breach that potentially compromised the data of33.7 millionSouth Korean accounts. Coupang’sinitial delayin revealing the breach and the subsequent investigation by the Korean government have increased tensions between the two governments. The U.S. concern is centered on a cross-government investigation that goes beyond the investigation of a breach of similar scale at SK Telecom last year, which exposed the Universal Subscriber Identity Mo…

S. Korea, US agree to closely coordinate on NK policy formulation ... National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik speaks during a meeting with reporters in Washington, March 6. Yonhap South Korea and the United States agreed Thursday to closely coordinate on the formulation and implementation of North Korea policy while reaffirming the shared goal of the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea, a senior Seoul official said. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik made the remarks after his first in-person meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Mike Waltz, in Washington as Seoul has been striving to ensure that it and the Donald Trump administration remain on the same page in their overall approach toward the recalcitrant regime in Pyongyang. The two sides also agreed that the National Security Councils (NSCs) of the two countries will lead their respective governments' efforts to promote bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding industry. "The two sides reaffirmed their will for the complete denuclearization of North Korea," Shin said during a meeting with South Korean correspondents as he explained the outcome of his talks with Waltz, which he depicted as having proceeded in a "very…

South Korea's President Lee Trump investment financial crisis South Korea's economy could fall into crises rivaling its 1997 meltdown if the government accepts current U.S. demands in stalled trade talks without safeguards, President Lee Jae Myung told Reuters. Seoul and Washington verbally agreed to a trade deal in July in which the U.S. would lower PresidentDonald Trump'stariffs on South Korean goods in exchange for $350 billion in investment from South Korea, among other measures. They have yet to put the agreement on paper because of disputes over how the investments would be handled, Lee said. "Without a currency swap, if we were to withdraw $350 billion in the manner that the U.S. is demanding and to invest this all in cash in the U.S., South Korea would face a situation as it had in the 1997 financial crisis," he said through a translator. In an interview in his office on Friday, Lee also spoke about a huge U.S. immigration raid that detained hundreds of Koreans, as well as Seoul's relations with rival North Korea, neighboring giant China and Russia. But trade and defense talks with the U.S., South Korea's military ally and a top economic partner, are overshadowing a t…

Trump signals renewed interest in North Korea, but Tehran playbook ... NorthKorea Add The Korea Herald on Google Copy Completed! There is growing concern that US President Donald Trump could turn his attention to North Korea following the ceasefire deal with Iran, but experts say that Pyongyang presents a different set of challenges in comparison. Speculation has intensified following Trump's social media post last week featuring a photograph from his 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his exchange with President Lee Jae Myung at the G7 summit in France this week. According to the presidential office in Seoul, Lee urged Trump to help lead efforts toward a peaceful resolution of North Korea issues, while Trump responded that he would work toward that goal. The exchange came around the time that Washington released the text of a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed with Iran on Thursday. The document commits Tehran to refraining from developing nuclear weapons and maintaining its current nuclear program while opening the door to sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and a reconstruction and development package worth at least $300 billion. For some…

North Korea: One Impulse for Trump to Heed | Arms Control Association January/February 2017 ByLeon V. Sigal Lost in the countryside, a city slicker stops to ask a farmer for directions. The farmer replies laconically, “Well, I wouldn’t start from here.” Starting from here is the sort of advice President Donald Trump is likely to get when he asks about North Korea. He will be urged to pick up where his predecessor left off: refuse to enter into negotiations unless the North first commits to denuclearizing completely and takes steps to demonstrate it is serious about that commitment. He also will be told to continue ratcheting up sanctions in a vain effort to force Pyongyang to the negotiating table on U.S. terms. That advice is tantamount to wishing away Washington’s current predicament in hopes of somehow going back to the future. Looming Threat President Barack Obama’s stance of “strategic patience”—pressure without negotiations—rested on the dubious premise that time was on Washington’s side. His successor does not have that luxury. North Korea’s fifth nuclear test may have yielded a nuclear device that can be mounted on a missile, although a few more tests still may be n…

US President Donald Trump expressed his commitment to playing a role in advancing Korean Peninsula issues while speaking with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, a senior presidential official said on Wednesday (June 17). en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2026...

South Korea-Japan Diplomats Meet Ahead of Trump Era World News Updated Jan 13, 2025 Top diplomats of South Korea, Japan hold talks ahead of Trump inauguration Two top diplomats from South Korea and Japan met in a critical meeting to discuss bilateral relations and strategic partnerships. The talks come at a pivotal moment with leadership transitions in multiple countries and uncertainties about future multilateral cooperation. Their discussion focused on maintaining positive momentum in their relationship and preparing for potential future collaborations. The meeting signals ongoing diplomatic engagement despite recent political challenges in South Korea. I IANS Jan 13, 2025 · 3 min read · 355 views Save Listen Copy SEOUL, Jan 13 The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan met on Monday for talks expected to focus on sustaining positive momentum in bilateral relations and advancing trilateral cooperation with the United States, ahead of the launch of the second Donald Trump administration. The talks marked the first one-on-one meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya since South Korea became embroiled in the political…

Possible Cancellation of Korea-U.S. Summit Due to Trump's Early Return ... byLim Chulyoung Published 17 Jun.2025 11:00(KST) President Lee Jaemyung's planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, which was to take place on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit, faced the risk of being canceled on June 16 (local time) due to President Trump's early return to the United States. President Trump decided to return early that night as military clashes between Israel and Iran intensified. The presidential office stated that it is still checking the situation. An official from the presidential office told reporters, "The summit with the United States was virtually scheduled for tomorrow. Even the time had been set." The official added, "Since the breaking news about President Trump's early return just came out, we are still confirming the situation." There had been expectations that President Lee would hold a summit with President Trump on June 17 during the G7 summit. However, with President Trump opting for an early return, there is growing speculation that the likelihood of the summit has significantly decreased. Some observers suggest that President Trump could still …

Lee, Trump hold phone conversation on outcome of US-China summit - The Korea Times President Lee Jae Myung speaks on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump at the presidential office in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap President Lee Jae Myung held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, Sunday, during which Trump shared the outcome of his high-stakes summit last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Cheong Wa Dae said the call was arranged at the request of the Korean side, following the summit in Beijing from Thursday to Friday. During the 30-minute talk, Trump shared the summit results with Lee as an ally, according to the presidential office. The two leaders also exchanged views on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, reaffirming the importance of continued cooperation and dialogue. Lee positively assessed the constructive discussions between Trump and Xi on issues concerning the peninsula, while Trump said that, based on close coordination with Lee, he would play the role necessary for peace and stability on the peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae explained. The two sides agreed on the need to ensure the smooth implementation of the joint fact sheet (JFS), which …

Lee underscores U.S. role in bringing peace to Korean Peninsula in APEC ... Lee underscores U.S. role in bringing peace to Korean Peninsula in APEC press conference SARAH KIM SARAH KIM Published November 1, 2025 - 2:27 p.m. President Lee Jae Myung, center, speaks during a press conference on the results of the two-day APEC summit at the International Media Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, on Nov. 1. JOINT PRESS CORPS GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang — President Lee Jae Myung underscored the importance of the role of the United States in resolving the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a press conference after concluding the APEC summit on Saturday. GoogleAdmanager-KJD "Attempting to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue solely through inter-Korean dialogue has clear limitations, so the role of the United States is crucial," Lee said in a press conference at the International Media Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang. "China and Russia also need to play a role, but the most crucial role is that of the United States." Lee's remarks come after U.S. Donald Trump signaled that he remains open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a bilateral summit in Gyeongju on Wednes…

President Lee Asks Trump to Play a Role in Korean Peninsula Peace ... byLim Chulyoung Published 17 Jun.2026 22:49(KST) Updated 18 Jun.2026 06:57(KST) President Lee Jae-myung used the occasion of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian, France, to discuss a broad range of issues—including peace on the Korean Peninsula, the situation in the Middle East, and matters concerning the South Korea-U.S. alliance—with U.S. President Donald Trump. Although it was not an official bilateral meeting, the two leaders built mutual trust by sitting together for about two hours and conversing during a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the First Lady. President Lee Jae-myung is attending the second session of the expanded Group of Seven (G7) and invited countries summit held in Evian-les-Bains, France, on June 17, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Oh Hyunjoo, the third deputy director of the National Security Office, stated during a briefing on June 17 (local time) that “During the official dinner hosted by President Macron and the First Lady on June 16, President Lee exchanged close opinions with President Trump on issues including the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the situation in t…

South Korea's Strategic Gamble with a Trump-Led US Author :Abhishek Sharma With Trump threatening tariffs, South Korea races to secure a deal blending trade and defence—testing the strength of its alliance with the US. Image Source:Yonhap News Agency On 7 July 2025, the United States (US) President Donald Trumpsentan official letter to the South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung, declaring his intention to impose 25 percent tariffs on all Korean products entering the US market. The letter’s release caused significant unease for President Lee Jae Myung, who faced a serious challenge on the trade front in the second month since assuming office. Given the trade challenge, the Lee administration aims to secure a deal with the Trump administration before the deadline—1 August 2025. Unlike the previous progressive Moon Jae-in administration's negotiation strategy, this administration has opted for a different route. The approach is based on securing a ‘positive-sum’ deal along with a package that seeks to secure South Korea’s security interests. However, considering the Trump administration’s unpredictability and arbitrariness, uncertainty looms over the success/outcome of said package…

(LEAD) Trump vows to play role in advancing Korean Peninsula issues: Seoul official EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 17 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump express...

South Korea president charmed Trump. Is it too early to declare a win? President Trump, right, and Lee Jae Myung, South Korea’s president, during a meeting at the White House on Monday. (Bloomberg via Getty Images) By Max Kim Aug. 29, 2025 9:36 AM PT 2 Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print SEOUL  — The first summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and President Trump was a picture of easy chumminess. On Monday, the two leaders bonded over the fact that they both have survived assassination attempts, and they talked golf. When Trump admired the handcrafted wooden fountain pen Lee used to sign the White House guest book, saying “it’s a nice pen, you want to take it with you?” Lee offered it as an impromptu gift. At a Q&A in front of reporters, Lee thanked Trump for bringing peace to the Korean peninsula through his previous summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and urged him to meet with Kim again. “If you become the peacemaker, then I will assist you by being a pacemaker,” Lee told Trump, drawing a chuckle. Advertisement These scenes, along with the two-hour closed door meeting between …

The Moon-Trump Summit: This Is Chaos in Action - The Diplomat The news out of Korea or, more appropriately, between North Korea and the United States, has continued to move apace, up to and including this week’s summit meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump. Indeed, we have witnessed what I presaged earlier this month, namely: the continued existence ofa hardline U.S. stance, Pyongyang’s response in kind, and the ever-present existence offundamental fissuresbetween the two, both in what is meant by denuclearization and also in how it is to be achieved (if at all). Today, the process culminated inTrump’s cancellationof his June 12 summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The same truculent realities I examined in earlier articles reared their head more openly last week. In particular, last Wednesday North Koreacancelledhigh-level talks with South Korea, ostensibly due to its displeasure over the combined U.S.-ROK Max Thunder air force drills. North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA,statedthat the drill is “a clear indication that the U.S. and the south Korean military remain unchanged in their ulterior motive to stifle the DPRK by f…

South Korea Is Stepping Up the East Asian Arms Race - Jacobin A t the beginning of November, after a tour spent collecting tributes and flattery across East Asia, Donald Trump left behind a region that has been further destabilized by his ignorance and impulsive behavior. The one-year trade truce between the United States and China dominated media coverage of the last leg of his itinerary, which took in the South Korean city of Gyeongju and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The brief lull in hostilities between the two powers will not address their growing economic and military rivalry. The territorial and military ambitions of regional players such as the two Korean states and Japan are compounding the grim outlook for the region. Each player is seeking to secure its place in a shifting landscape, balanced between an old superpower in decline and a new one on the rise. Just as North Korea was never a satellite state of the USSR or China, having always followed an agenda of its own, South Korea is not — or at any rate no longer is — a neo-colony of the United States. As such, it is developing new strategies and military capacities for the emerging world order. A t the …

(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on July 17) - Thailand Tribune Trump's reelection odds Korea has to consider higher chance of Trump getting reelected, be proactive The attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump on Saturday sent shock waves throughout the world, generating a torrent of reactions, analyses and predictions about its political impacts in the US and elsewhere. The powerful photograph capturing Trump with his fist in the air and blood streaking down his cheek, surrounded by Secret Service agents with an American flag hanging at an odd angle set in the background immediately stole the first page of newspapers and hit social media around the world, which has certainly shown him in a defiant light among American voters. Some political pundits said that Trump, partly helped by the iconic image and his actions in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, has strengthened his election prospects, which could lead to a win in the forthcoming presidential race. Given that there are still nearly four months away from the make-or-break US electio n in November, nobody knows how new developments will happen and put a fresh spin on the presidential race between …

Trade tensions threaten to overshadow Apec meetings as ... Trade tensions threaten to overshadow Apec meetings as leaders seek consensus Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaking at the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meetings in the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Oct 31. PHOTO: AFP Wendy Teo Published Oct 31, 2025, 11:30 PM Updated Nov 01, 2025, 07:00 AM Listen Summarise Trump's trade protectionism looms over Apec, raising concerns that there may not be a joint communique as was the case in 2018 due to US-China trade tensions. A temporary US-China truce was reached, with the US easing tariffs and China addressing fentanyl and rare earth exports, but its impact on Apec remains uncertain. Xi Jinping urged Apec to uphold free trade amid "increasing instability", while Singapore called for WTO reform and South Korea emphasised harmony for shared prosperity. AI generated GYEONGJU - Despite US President Donald Trump’s absence from the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, his shadow looms large. All eyes are on whether the 21 member economies will be able to issue a joint…

Trump vows to play role in advancing Korean Peninsula issues: Seoul official EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump express...

It is time to revisit the idea of North East Asian regional security talks Despite an invitation to dialogue extended by the president of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Lee Jae Myung, to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), the long-standing conflict on the Korean Peninsula does not appear any closer to resolution. So far, Lee’s overtures have received afrosty responsefrom North Korea, which sees little incentive for inter-Korean reconciliation in the absence of engagement with the United States. Although both US President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have indicated openness to resuming engagement over the past year, the US objective of denuclearization is deeply at odds with North Korea’s heavy reliance on nuclear deterrence. Hopes for renewed diplomacy remain fragile against the backdrop of the USA’s inconsistent approach the last time Kim engaged with Trump, when a mutual commitment to confidence building in 2018 was followed by the latter’s one-sided denuclearization demands in 2019, spoiling North Korea’s appetite for compromise.Trump’s policy towards Iran—which the USA has attacked twice during nuclear negotiations, with the …