President Lee on US-Japan Tour: "Demonstrating Pragmatic Diplomacy Focused on National Interests Through Action"

Professor Min Jeonghun: Positive Reception Not Only in Japan, but Also in the United States

After completing his visit to Japan, President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Washington DC, USA, for a South Korea-US summit. Min Jeonghun, a professor at the Center for American Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, commented, "He demonstrated pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests through his actions."

President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hye Kyung arrived at Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC, USA, on the 24th (local time) and are disembarking from Air Force One. Photo by Yonhap News

On August 25, during an appearance on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun Jung's News Show," Professor Min said, "It is highly unusual to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister before the South Korea-US summit and then travel to the United States." He added, "The United States wants trilateral cooperation (among South Korea, the US, and Japan) to counter China and promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. There were concerns that the new progressive administration might lean toward China or North Korea, but these actions have addressed such worries."

He continued, "Because the Lee Jae Myung administration has demonstrated policy directions that encompass both centrist and conservative views through its actions, there has been positive feedback not only from Japan but also within the United States."

Professor Min also commented on the joint press statement released after the summit between President Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 23, saying, "It is interesting that both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on political and social issues that concern both South Korea and Japan, such as low birth rates, concentration in the capital region, and disaster safety. It seems that President Lee's administrative capabilities are also being demonstrated in the field of diplomacy."

Regarding the South Korea-US summit, he said, "President Donald Trump also needs to use the summit for political publicity. Since building personal trust is a key goal, I understand that we are bringing many gifts. Establishing a foundation for strong personal trust between the two leaders is important."

He added, "Since this is President Trump's stage, President Lee should play a supporting role and highlight President Trump, while the matters we want can be finalized through working-level consultations. As an experienced politician, I expect President Lee to approach this with confidence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.