SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hailed his country’s alliance with the United States while describing U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential “peacemaker”, hours after North Korea fired ballistic missiles in its first show of force since Lee took office in June.
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Lee acknowledged tensions on the Korean Peninsula had “gotten worse” in recent years but said peace and dialogue must remain the priority. “I hope that (Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un) will be able to engage in dialogue,” he said. “I also believe that President Trump wants to achieve world peace, and that is why I have made the recommendation for him to take on the role of a peacemaker.”
Balancing Washington and Beijing
Trump is expected to visit Asia later this month, attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, where he will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping amid renewed U.S.-China trade tensions. Lee said it would be “a good thing” if Trump and Kim were to meet again during the trip.
South Korea, a long-standing U.S. ally, hosts 41,000 U.S. military personnel, but also maintains a vital trading relationship with China. “When it comes to relationships between countries, you cannot cut it clean with a knife and say: ‘This country is our friend, and this country is not,’” Lee said. “It’s much more complicated and complex.”
Lee noted that while Chinese companies are catching up in high-tech sectors, South Korea remains competitive in areas like semiconductors and automobiles. He said Seoul is committed to sharing its expertise with Washington, adding: “We are willing to assist the U.S. in revamping its manufacturing industry to the extent possible.”
Trade and Immigration Strains
Despite the warm tone, ties between Seoul and Washington have recently faced strain over Trump’s immigration crackdown and tariff demands. Nearly 500 South Koreans were deported after an ICE raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia last month, sparking public anger in Seoul.
Lee has also been negotiating to prevent steep U.S. tariffs on Korean exports. While a deal worth $350 billion in investments to the U.S. was reached in July, unresolved disputes continue to hurt South Korea’s auto industry. “There are differences in opinion,” Lee said, “but eventually we will get there because the United States is the leading country when it comes to the values of democracy and the free market system.”
Asked about criticism that Trump’s tariff approach was heavy-handed, Lee laughed: “I believe that we will, in the end, be able to reach a rational result that can be acceptable.”
