In his first Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung mixed charm with diplomacy. He urged Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with North Korea and slipped in a light-hearted proposal.
“I look forward to your meeting with the chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea and construction of a Trump Tower in North Korea and playing golf at that place,” Lee said.
The remark drew attention not just for its humour but also for what it symbolised: Seoul’s reliance on Washington to help manage relations with its nuclear-armed neighbour.
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Flattery as strategyLee praised Trump’s past efforts with Kim, calling him a unique figure in global diplomacy. “The only person who can make progress is you Mr President. If you become the peacemaker, then I will assist you by being a pacemaker,” Lee said.
Live EventsHe also lauded the redecorated Oval Office. “I heard that you recently redecorated the Oval Office, and I would like to say that it looks very bright and beautiful. It has the dignity of America, and it symbolizes the new future and prosperity of America.”
Trump responded warmly, congratulating Lee on his election victory. “We’ve known each other and gotten along very well. 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 per cent.”
Trump opens door to Kim Jong Un meetingTrump, who has met Kim Jong Un three times before, said he was open to meeting him again. “I’d like to have a meeting. I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong Un in the appropriate future,” he told reporters.
Reflecting on their past encounters, he added: “I spent a lot of free time with him, talking about things that we probably aren’t supposed to talk about. I get along with him really well.”
But while Trump remains upbeat about Kim, North Korea has dismissed Seoul’s recent outreach and continues to expand its nuclear arsenal. Days before the White House meeting, Pyongyang tested two new air defence missiles.Tensions ahead of the visitLee’s team had braced for a difficult session. Just hours before the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social: “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA?” and hinted at a “Purge or Revolution”, in reference to investigations into former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon was impeached after declaring martial law last year, a move later overturned by lawmakers. He now faces charges of alleged insurrection. Trump’s post rattled Seoul, but when pressed in Washington, he dismissed it as a misunderstanding.
Asked about reports of church raids in South Korea, Trump said he had heard it through “intel” but added: “didn’t sound to me like South Korea.” Lee replied that investigations were underway, and Trump said he was confident they would “work it out.”
Trade and defence deal still stalledDespite the warm tone, the meeting produced little movement on key issues. Trump repeated his long-standing criticism of South Korea’s defence spending and questioned the current arrangement over US troop deployment.
“We spent a lot of money building a fort, and there was a contribution made by South Korea, but I would like to see if we could get rid of the lease and get ownership of the land where we have a massive military base,” he said, referring to facilities that house about 28,500 US troops.
On trade, Seoul had already agreed to invest $350 billion in the US, including $150 billion in shipbuilding. Korean Air also announced a $50 billion deal to purchase 103 Boeing aircraft, while Hyundai pledged to raise its US investment to $26 billion. In total, South Korean firms are set to commit $150 billion.
Still, tariffs on South Korean goods remain at 15 per cent, and Trump indicated they would not be lowered soon. “I think we have a deal done. They had some problems with it, but we stuck to our guns,” he said.
North Korea’s growing arsenalLee used his Washington trip to sound the alarm on Pyongyang’s nuclear progress. He said the country is now capable of producing 10 to 20 nuclear weapons each year, a claim that suggests additional uranium enrichment capacity. “The situation is deteriorating,” he warned.
US officials share similar concerns. Earlier this year, General Xavier T. Brunson testified that North Korea is advancing towards hypersonic and multiple warhead missile capabilities.
North Korea’s alignment with Russia has added another layer of complexity, with reports that Pyongyang has sent troops to aid Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
Gifts, symbolism and unfinished business
Lee capped his visit with symbolic gifts: a golf putter, two cowboy hats embroidered with Trump’s campaign slogan, and a model of a turtle ship. He quipped again about golfing in Pyongyang, saying he hoped a Trump Tower there would make it possible.
Trump responded: “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me. We look forward to meeting with him, and we’ll make relations better. You’ll help that.”
For all the levity, the meeting underscored the weight of unresolved issues. Seoul depends heavily on Washington for its security umbrella and economic stability. Trump insists South Korea gains more from the alliance than the US does. Both sides know they need each other, but questions over tariffs, defence costs and North Korea’s arsenal remain unsettled.
