South Korean President Raises Full North Korea Issue in Meeting with Trump

According to Yonhap, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on August 24 that he will raise all issues related to North Korea during an important summit with US President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need for dialogue with Pyongyang in the context that the country has just rejected his peace proposal.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung board a plane at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo to depart for the United States after concluding a visit to Japan, August 24, 2025. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)

Speaking on a flight from Tokyo to Washington for his first summit with Trump at the White House on August 25, Mr. Lee reiterated his recently announced three-phase denuclearization plan aimed at persuading Pyongyang to freeze, reduce and eventually dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

“I will say everything I need to say about North Korea, without any limits,” he told reporters.

“The North Korean issue is very important to us, whether it is nuclear or any other issue, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is the most important thing for the security of South Korea,” he stressed.

Observers say Mr Trump could meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if he visits South Korea for the APEC summit in late October, rekindling the detente atmosphere of his first term, when the two sides held three summits.

Asked whether he would extend an invitation to Mr. Kim, President Lee rejected comparisons to the conciliatory atmosphere at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, asserting that the current situation is “much worse,” with the level of hostility rising and Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile capabilities expanding.

“As the situation gets worse, the need for dialogue becomes greater. If we leave things as they are and react in a knee-jerk manner like in the past, it will be very difficult,” he said.

President Lee also downplayed recent remarks by Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's powerful sister, in which she rejected peace proposals and said he was "not someone who can change the course of history."

Mr. Lee said he was not angry at these remarks and reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing dialogue with Pyongyang for peace and stability on the peninsula.

“Based on our strong security and deterrence capabilities, we will promote dialogue and communication with North Korea to reduce the risk of military confrontation, boost the economy and ease public concerns, which will serve the interests of South Korea,” he affirmed./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tong-thong-han-quoc-neu-toan-bo-van-de-trieu-tien-trong-cuoc-gap-ong-trump-259362.htm