Lee Holds 30-Minute Call with Trump After U.S.-China Summit, Discusses Korean Peninsula and JFS (Comprehensive)

30-Minute Call at Presidential Residence on the Night of the 17th
Exchange of Views on Overall U.S.-China Relations and Middle East Situation
Trump: "Will Continue Role for Peace on the Korean Peninsula"
Both Leaders Agree on "Faithful Impl

On May 17, President Lee Jaemyung held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to share the results of the U.S.-China summit, exchange views on the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS), and discuss current issues such as peace on the Korean Peninsula. This direct communication between the leaders of South Korea and the United States took place just two days after the U.S.-China summit, which was held from May 14 to 15. It was also the first direct contact between the two leaders in about seven months, since their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju at the end of October last year.

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Kang Yoojeong, Chief Presidential Spokesperson, said in a written briefing following the call, which began at 10 p.m. that evening, "President Lee spoke with President Trump for 30 minutes from the presidential residence," adding, "President Trump shared the main outcomes of the U.S.-China summit, including the overall state of U.S.-China relations, economic and trade agreements, and developments on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East." It was reported that the call was made at the request of the South Korean side. During the call, President Lee congratulated President Trump on the successful state visit to China, the first in nine years. He also evaluated that stable management of U.S.-China relations would contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

President Trump explained the results of the U.S.-China summit to President Lee. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had also spoken with President Trump and received a briefing on the summit's outcomes. In this context, South Korea likewise directly confirmed, through the South Korea-U.S. leaders' call, the potential impact of changes in U.S.-China relations on the Korean Peninsula and economic security.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Kang, the chief spokesperson, stated, "President Lee praised the constructive consultations between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Korean Peninsula issues," and added, "President Trump said that, based on close coordination between the South Korean and U.S. leaders, he would continue to play and contribute the necessary role for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

This dialogue on Korean Peninsula issues goes beyond a simple sharing of the U.S.-China summit results; it marks a reaffirmation of South Korea-U.S. cooperation on the pressing issues of North Korea's nuclear program and tension management on the peninsula. Given that the future course of U.S.-China relations could affect messages to North Korea and the regional security order, the fact that the South Korean and U.S. leaders addressed the issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula as a separate agenda item immediately after the U.S.-China summit is significant.

The two leaders also discussed the implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet announced last year. They recalled that the Joint Fact Sheet was a historic agreement that upgraded the South Korea-U.S. alliance to a new level and agreed to work together for its faithful implementation. The Joint Fact Sheet, announced after last year's South Korea-U.S. summit on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Gyeongju, is a follow-up document outlining major areas of cooperation between the two countries in economic security, defense industry, shipbuilding, and investment. The renewed mention of the Fact Sheet's implementation during this call is interpreted as a reaffirmation of the unwavering axis of strategic cooperation between South Korea and the United States, even after the U.S.-China summit.

Recently, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jungkwan met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the U.S. Department of Commerce building in Washington, D.C. on May 8 (local time) to discuss follow-up measures for South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the "South Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative" between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Both sides agreed to promote corporate cooperation projects such as joint research and development (R&D), technology exchange, and direct investment; to expand workforce training and exchanges in shipbuilding; and to share information on the shipbuilding industry. They also agreed to establish a South Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center in Washington, D.C. within this year to support cooperation between companies of both countries, improve productivity at U.S. shipyards, and facilitate workforce training programs.

Yonhap News Agency

The situation in the Middle East was also on the agenda during the call. President Lee stated, "I appreciate President Trump's active leadership in resolving the situation in the Middle East and hope that peace and stability will be restored as soon as possible." Spokesperson Kang also reported that President Trump mentioned the Middle East situation while explaining the outcomes of the U.S.-China summit. Additionally, both leaders expressed their anticipation for meeting again at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit scheduled for mid-next month. With this phone call following the U.S.-China summit for a timely exchange of views, the leaders of South Korea and the United States left open the possibility of in-person talks on the sidelines of the upcoming G7 Summit.

Meanwhile, after completing his visit to China, President Trump also held a summit call with the Japanese side. Prime Minister Takaichi spoke with President Trump for about 15 minutes on May 15 and was briefed on the results of the U.S.-China summit. Prime Minister Takaichi said after the call that President Trump had provided a detailed explanation of his visit to China and the summit. She also said that they exchanged views on economic security and security issues surrounding China, as well as the situation in Iran, and confirmed the unwavering U.S.-Japan alliance.

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