Washington, USA — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he wanted to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and signaled openness to further trade talks with South Korea, even as he leveled fresh criticism at his visiting Asian ally.
South Korea’s new President, Lee Jae Myung, arrived at the White House for high-stakes talks just hours after Trump publicly criticized Seoul’s handling of investigations into the December martial law attempt by his conservative predecessor. The remarks cast a tense shadow over Lee’s first official visit since taking office in June following the impeachment and removal of Yoon Suk Yeol.
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Welcoming Lee to the Oval Office, Trump said he was open to revisiting aspects of the U.S.–South Korea trade deal and expressed interest in renewed dialogue with North Korea.
“I’d like to have a meeting,” Trump told reporters. “I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong Un in the appropriate future.”
President Lee, striking a conciliatory tone, praised Trump and voiced support for renewed U.S.–North Korea engagement. South Korea’s economy remains closely tied to the U.S., which underwrites its defense with troops and nuclear deterrence. Trump, however, reiterated his long-standing view that Seoul has been “a money machine” benefiting disproportionately from American protection.
The White House meeting also touched on sensitive domestic issues. When asked about Trump’s earlier social media post alleging misconduct linked to raids on churches, Lee sought to carefully clarify Seoul’s position.
“We didn’t directly investigate the U.S. base; we investigated the South Korean unit within the base. I will explain it to you more in detail later,” Lee told Trump.
Observers noted the unusual contrast between Trump’s sharp online remarks and his later effort to downplay them. After accusing Seoul of serious misconduct, Trump dismissed the issue during the press availability, saying: “I’m sure this was just a misunderstanding.”
The meeting comes at a pivotal time as Washington, Seoul, and Pyongyang weigh next steps on regional security, trade, and diplomatic engagement.
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