He explained to reporters aboard the presidential plane heading from Tokyo to Washington, ahead of his anticipated summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, that he plans to discuss multiple issues, primarily security, sharing defense costs, and trade negotiations, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
South Korea hosts about 28,500 U.S. troops, and Washington seeks to expand their mission as part of its strategy to counter China. However, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung asserted that “Seoul cannot easily agree to this step,” calling for a “strategic dialogue to determine the long-term missions of the forces.”
Lee noted that his summit with Trump will also address economic issues, especially after the agreement to reduce tariffs from 25% to 15% in exchange for Seoul’s commitment to massive investments in America amounting to 350 billion dollars, a deal whose details are still subject to dispute.
The South Korean President also described the review of the bilateral nuclear agreement as a priority in foreign policy, expecting that “negotiations with Washington will be tough but will lead to ‘realistic and reasonable’ outcomes,” reaffirming his determination to protect South Korea’s national interests.
