South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., for their first summit focused on defense and trade.
Trump pressed South Korea to increase its financial support for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country, suggesting a rise from about $1 billion annually to as much as $5–10 billion. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of repositioning U.S. forces in the region to address growing security concerns, particularly involving China.
Both sides emphasized the importance of stability on the Korean Peninsula and expressed interest in re-engaging North Korea, despite continued missile activity and a lack of formal dialogue.
The meeting highlighted the challenges for President Lee as he seeks to strengthen ties with the U.S. while balancing relations with China and addressing domestic concerns about overreliance on Washington.
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