President Lee arrives in Washington, D.C.… Korea-U.S. summit with Trump on the 25th

President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Washington, D.C., United States, on the 24th (local time). On the 25th, President Lee will hold his first Korea-U.S. summit with President Donald Trump. This comes 82 days after President Lee's inauguration.

After holding a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and departing Tokyo, Japan the previous day, President Lee arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., United States, via private jet in the afternoon. During his 3-day, 2-night visit, President Lee will attend a dinner meeting with Korean residents in the U.S., the Korea-U.S. summit, and visit Hanwha Philly Shipyard. In the welcoming ceremony, Abby Jones, the U.S. Deputy Chief of Protocol, and Colonel Joshua Kim greeted President Lee. On the Korean side, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun and Acting Ambassador to the U.S. Lee Jun-ho attended.

President Lee and President Trump will discuss follow-up details of the tariff negotiations concluded at the end of July, an increase in defense costs, and the so-called 'alliance modernization' plans, including the realignment of U.S. Forces Korea roles. Unusually, all three key secretaries of the presidential office (Chief of Staff, Chief Policy Secretary, and National Security Advisor) have joined the U.S. delegation. Amid strong pressure from the Trump Administration for increased defense spending and further opening of Korea’s agricultural, livestock, and fisheries markets, attention is focused on what negotiation outcomes President Lee, who has advocated for a 'national interest-driven pragmatic diplomacy,' will accept. Amendments to the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Agreement and cooperation in shipbuilding will also be discussed.

Washington, D.C. = Jae-young Han, jyhan@hankyung.com