[Breaking] Wi Seong-rak: "There will be no tariff negotiations on the occasion of the UN General Assembly... contact with the US is possible"

It was reported that President Lee Jae-myung will not hold talks with the US and Chinese leaders during his visit to New York, United States, to attend the 80th UN General Assembly high-level segment from 22~26.

Wi Seong-rak, Director of the National Security Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 19th and announced this. Wi said, "We are not planning a meeting with President Donald Trump," adding, "I recently met with President Trump, and there is a possibility of a meeting in October."

He said, "The UN General Assembly schedule and conditions are complicated," and added, "Chinese President Xi Jinping has the possibility of visiting Korea (in connection with the Gyeongju APEC summit), and if he visits, a bilateral meeting is expected."

It also appears unlikely that he will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, with whom he recently held a summit, at the UN General Assembly.

Wi said, "We do not plan to meet Prime Minister Ishiba at the UN," and explained, "Diplomacy between Korea and Japan has been restored, and exchanges between the leaders will continue."

Prime Minister Ishiba is reportedly likely to visit Korea on a one-night, two-day trip starting on the 30th and to hold a summit in Busan.

However, Wi said, "Through meetings with the UN Secretary-General and major G7 countries such as France and Italy, as well as Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, and Poland, we will strengthen ties with leaders and discuss practical cooperation in defense industry, infrastructure, etc., putting into practice national-interest-centered practical diplomacy."

He added, "What I mentioned centers on countries with a high degree of specificity," saying, "It may not be exhaustive, and a meeting with France is expected."

He also said, "There will be multilateral meetings attending the UN General Assembly, delivering speeches, there will be a Security Council meeting convened by us, and although the leader will not attend, there is the France-led Palestine international conference I mentioned earlier," and "There is no plan for a meeting with President Trump."

Kim Dae-young Hankyung.com reporter kdy@hankyung.com