Trump: "I want to meet Kim Jong Un this year"
"I have a good relationship with Chairman Kim"
Trump: "We can do something regarding inter-Korean issues"
President Lee jokes, "Please build a Trump World in North Korea so I can play golf too"
Korea-U.S. Summit affirms commitment to strengthening Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation
President Lee: "I resolved all the concerns in advance"
For the first time since taking office, President Lee Jaemyung held a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and actively requested that Trump play the role of a "peacemaker" by meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After confirming President Trump's willingness to engage in dialogue, President Lee explained the significance of resuming the North Korea-U.S. summit. In response, President Trump said, "That would be a very good thing," and expressed his intention to pursue it. Notably, President Lee also told President Trump, "If you become the peacemaker, I will support you as the pacemaker."
During the opening remarks of the summit, which took place on the 25th (local time) in the Oval Office at the White House, President Lee stated, "The United States is not only playing a role in maintaining peace but is now standing out as a peacemaker, actively creating peace." He added, "Among world leaders, you are the first I have seen who has shown genuine interest in and achieved real results regarding peace issues in regions such as Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East." The summit, including a working luncheon, lasted for two hours and twenty minutes.
President Lee said, "I hope you will meet with Chairman Kim and help bring peace to the Korean Peninsula, which remains the only divided nation in the world." He joked, "Please build a Trump World in North Korea so that I can play golf there as well. I sincerely hope you will play the role of a historic peacemaker." President Lee also recalled that Kim Yo Jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, had previously criticized him, and remarked, "I have no doubt about the special relationship between President Trump and Chairman Kim. It seems they are waiting for this opportunity."
President Lee further emphasized, "It is not easy for me alone to improve inter-Korean relations, but in reality, President Trump is the only person who can resolve this issue." He added, "While you serve as the peacemaker, I will work hard to support you as the pacemaker."
Trump: "I want to meet Kim Jong Un this year"..."I have a very good relationship with Chairman Kim, and that is still the case"
In response to President Lee's request, President Trump said, "I think we can do something regarding inter-Korean issues," and "President Lee is much more determined to resolve this issue than other Korean leaders I have worked with. We will pursue this together, and I think it is a very good thing."
President Trump specifically mentioned that he would like to meet Chairman Kim within this year. Previously, during his first term, President Trump held two North Korea-U.S. summits: the first in Singapore and the second in Hanoi, Vietnam, as well as a meeting at Panmunjom. Now, he has expressed his intention to pursue another summit. President Trump, who has repeatedly emphasized his close relationship with Chairman Kim, stated, "I had a very good relationship with Chairman Kim, and that remains true. We have a great deal of mutual respect."
During the executive order signing ceremony held just before the summit, President Trump also commented on Chairman Kim, saying, "Someday, I will see him again. We held two summits and got along very well. Other than his sister, I know him better than anyone else." He also claimed that if former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate in the 2016 presidential election, had won, there would have been a "nuclear war" or a "catastrophe."
Korea-U.S. Summit: Commitment to Strengthening Korea-U.S.-Japan Cooperation...President Lee Says "The Future of Korea-Japan Relations Is Bright"
The two leaders also gave a positive assessment of strengthening Korea-U.S.-Japan relations. President Lee mentioned that before meeting President Trump, he visited Japan and addressed many of the concerns raised by the United States. President Trump noted, "There were some awkward aspects in Korea-Japan relations," and added, "I thought the comfort women issue had been resolved in the past, but it turns out it had not." He continued, "Because of longstanding historical issues, it has not been easy to reconcile Korea and Japan."
In response, President Lee said, "Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation is a very important task, and in order to advance Korea-U.S. relations, we also need to manage Korea-Japan relations to some extent. I met with Japan in advance and resolved all the issues you were concerned about." Recalling his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, President Trump said, "Japan is actively seeking to improve relations with Korea. On North Korea policy, the interests of Korea and Japan are aligned." President Lee added, "When I met Prime Minister Ishiba, I felt that many of the obstacles that previously existed had been removed. I believe the future of Korea-Japan relations is bright."
Meanwhile, President Trump also hinted at the possibility of visiting China soon. He said, "I recently spoke with President Xi Jinping of China, and I think I may visit China either this year or in the near future." He joked to President Lee, "Perhaps we could visit China together. If we take the same private jet, we could save fuel and help protect the ozone layer." President Lee replied, "I would be happy to go together."
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