ROK-US Leaders Likely to Hold First Phone Call Today... Early Visit to US Expected

President Lee Jaemyung and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to hold their first phone call as early as June 4.

According to diplomatic sources, the two governments are currently coordinating the schedule for the phone conversation between President Lee and President Trump. The call is likely to take place late at night Korean time, which would be early morning in Washington, D.C.

It is expected that President Trump will congratulate President Lee on his inauguration and that both leaders will reaffirm the strong ROK-U.S. alliance. Given President Trump's typically direct manner of speaking, he may also raise current issues such as the North Korean nuclear issue, tariffs, or defense cost-sharing.

In addition, a summit meeting between the two leaders is expected to be arranged soon. It is likely that President Trump will formally invite President Lee to the United States. However, if South Korea is invited to the Group of Seven (G7) summit to be held in Canada on June 15, the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders could take place in a multilateral setting.

President Lee Jae-myung is receiving a report on the transfer of military command authority during a phone call with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo at his private residence in Gyeyang District, Incheon on June 4, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News