South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Despite the serious nature of the discussions, Lee lightened the mood with compliments and lighthearted remarks. He humorously expressed his hope that Trump would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and that a ‘Trump Tower’ could be built there, where they could play golf together.
Lee praised Trump’s diplomatic style and his past interactions with Kim Jong Un, stating that only leaders like him could bring about global progress. He added that if Trump became a peacemaker, he would be a pacemaker alongside him. Lee also admired the Oval Office’s decor, calling it a symbol of America’s new prosperity and bright future. Trump responded warmly, congratulating Lee on his election victory and stating that the U.S. was fully supportive.
Trump indicated his desire to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again in the future. He mentioned that they had many conversations during their previous meetings and that their relationship was positive. This comes amidst North Korea’s recent test of a new air defense missile and its rejection of talks with South Korea. At the end of the meeting, Lee presented Trump with a golf putter, two cowboy hats with the inscription ‘Make America Great Again,’ and a model of a turtle ship.
Despite the amicable atmosphere, no concrete agreements were reached on critical issues such as defense spending, the deployment of U.S. troops, and tariffs. South Korean companies are planning to invest billions of dollars in the U.S. Korean Air has made a large deal to purchase 103 Boeing aircraft. Hyundai has also announced an increase in investment. However, the 15% tariff on South Korean goods remains, and Trump signaled that reducing it would not be easy. Lee warned that North Korea has the capacity to produce 10 to 20 new nuclear weapons annually. U.S. officials have also acknowledged that Pyongyang is moving toward hypersonic and multi-warhead missiles.