South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to spearhead renewed talks with North Korea concerning its nuclear program. This request was made during a brief interaction at the G7 Summit in France, where South Korea was invited as a guest nation. Lee specifically urged Trump to leverage his previous diplomatic engagements with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which had seen direct negotiations between the two leaders.
The appeal from President Lee comes at a time when North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are under renewed scrutiny, further complicated by the strengthening of ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. Despite past summit meetings between Trump and Kim, which occurred during Trump’s first term, these diplomatic efforts did not culminate in a lasting agreement on denuclearization.
Recent remarks by Trump about his previous meetings with Kim have been seen by some South Korean officials as a potential indication of a willingness to re-engage. Meanwhile, South Korea continues to advocate for renewed dialogue, while also bolstering its defense collaborations with international allies to address regional security concerns.
At the G7 Summit, alongside his appeal to Trump, President Lee also held discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. These talks centered around enhancing defense cooperation and building broader security partnerships, highlighting South Korea’s proactive diplomatic engagement during the summit.