South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emerged heavily burdened with an unexpected challenge from his high-stakes first meeting with US President Donald Trump, whose penchant for expansionism and unconventional diplomacy has kept allies on edge, analysts say.
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Lee’s spokeswoman, Kang Yu-jung, sought to frame the summit positively, describing it as a “rapport-building” get-together and declaring: “The summit went so well that there was no need for a joint statement.”
Yet the absence of a statement underscored the wide gulf between the two allies on thorny issues – notably, the role of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea.
True to his taste for upending conventional diplomacy, Trump publicly criticised the procedures surrounding Lee’s rise to power just two hours before the meeting. Lee became president in a snap election in June, triggered by the failed December 3 martial law imposition by his predecessor, conservative president Yoon Suk-yeol.
“WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution,” Trump wrote on social media on Monday morning. “We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”
The post appeared to reference ongoing special counsel investigations into Yoon, who has been detained over his martial law bid in December.