U.S. Secretary of State and South Korea Agree on Urgent Summit

On June 26, the South Korean presidential office announced a mutual understanding with the United States regarding the prompt scheduling of a South Korea-U.S. summit. It was noted that President Donald Trump has shown significant interest in South Korea's shipbuilding industry. National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lak shared with reporters that he had a brief conversation with President Trump during the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, confirming Trump's keen interest in cooperation within the shipbuilding sector.

During his attendance at the NATO summit, Wi also met with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio to discuss the necessity of holding a South Korea-U.S. summit soon. Wi reported that there has been some progress in discussions regarding the summit, emphasizing the ongoing negotiations related to trade and security issues. He stated that while the exact timing has not been finalized, both sides agreed to expedite the process.

President Lee Jae-myung was scheduled to meet with President Trump during the G7 summit in Canada on June 16-17, but the meeting was canceled as Trump returned early to address the situation in the Middle East.

When asked about discussions on tariffs ahead of the expiration of the U.S. tariff suspension on July 8, Wi acknowledged that detailed discussions had not taken place but emphasized the importance of strengthening trust and solidarity in the South Korea-U.S. alliance during negotiations. Regarding defense cost discussions, he noted that time was limited for detailed talks, but the main topic at the NATO summit was the '5% defense cost agreement,' indicating a broader international trend.

Wi also mentioned the possibility of Rubio visiting South Korea, stating that there is potential for U.S. officials to come to Korea, and further consultations are needed. Additionally, he met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, delivering a letter from President Lee expressing the South Korean government's commitment to strengthening the South Korea-NATO partnership. Wi explained the circumstances that prevented President Lee from attending the summit, to which NATO expressed understanding.

He also commented on the absence of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba from the NATO summit, noting that schedules in multilateral meetings are often unpredictable and subject to change, suggesting that communication among countries plays a crucial role in decision-making.