South Korea’s Lee to meet Trump in Washington to bolster alliance, deepen tech ties

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on August 25 for their first summit, aiming to strengthen the alliance and boost cooperation in high-tech industries.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters that Lee will visit the United States from August 24 for a three-day trip, his first since taking office in early June, Caliber.Az reports, citing South Korean media.

“The two leaders plan to discuss ways to develop the Korea-U.S. alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance in response to the changing international security and economic environment,” Kang said.

“They will also discuss ways to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and coordinate on denuclearisation, while further strengthening the robust Korea-U.S. combined deterrence posture,” she added.

Talks will cover cooperation in semiconductors, batteries and shipbuilding, as well as partnerships in advanced technologies and critical minerals, building on a trade agreement reached earlier this month.

Under the deal, the planned 25% tariffs were reduced to 15% in exchange for a US$350bn investment pledge, US$100bn in U.S. energy purchases and commitments on industrial collaboration.

Contentious issues are expected to include details of the investment pledge, the future of the military alliance and policy coordination on North Korea. U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Xavier Brunson recently said the alliance must adapt to the evolving security landscape in Northeast Asia, 75 years after its creation.

Seoul is seeking to deepen security cooperation with Washington amid closer military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow and North Korea’s advancing nuclear programme, while maintaining stable relations with China, its largest trading partner.

Kang said speculation about a possible stop in Japan before Lee’s U.S. trip remained unresolved.

By Aghakazim Guliyev