South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung Strengthens Ties With Trump at G7 Summit, Discusses North Korea and Future Golf Meeting

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emerged from the G7 summit with a symbolic gift from U.S. President Donald Trump and renewed momentum in South Korea-U.S. relations, following extensive discussions on North Korea, regional security, and economic cooperation.

Lee, who attended the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains as an invited partner, revealed that he held a lengthy conversation with Trump during a leaders’ dinner. According to Lee, the two leaders spent about 90 minutes discussing peace on the Korean Peninsula and the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

In a post on X, Lee described the talks as productive, saying they made “significant progress” on key issues, particularly regarding North Korea and regional stability. The discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining close cooperation between Seoul and Washington amid ongoing security challenges in Northeast Asia.

A notable moment occurred the following day when Trump presented Lee with a pen he had used to sign documents during the summit. Lee suggested the gesture carried special significance, recalling an earlier summit where Trump received a pen used by the South Korean leader.

The meeting also featured a lighter exchange, with Trump reportedly proposing a future golf outing involving Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung. Lee initially viewed the suggestion as casual conversation, but later noted that Trump raised the idea multiple times, signaling genuine interest in arranging the gathering.

During the summit, Lee also encouraged Trump to take a leading role in efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of tensions with North Korea. South Korea’s presidential office stated that the leaders discussed broader areas of cooperation, including shipbuilding and trilateral coordination among South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

Despite occasional disagreements over trade policies, tariffs, and defense cost-sharing, South Korea and the United States remain close strategic allies. Lee’s office added that Trump praised the South Korean president, describing him as a “strong leader,” underscoring the positive tone of their discussions at the G7 summit.