President Lee Expresses Respect for Trump's Decision to Scale Down Joint Drills to Foster Dialogue

President Lee Jae-myung stated regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's active moves to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue, such as ordering a reduction in South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, "I share President Trump's will and efforts, and I express my respect for his decision."

President Lee posted on his social media today (the 20th), saying, "I have carefully reviewed the social media messages and photos recently posted by President Trump," referring to President Trump's recent messages.

Earlier on the 17th, the day the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercise began, President Trump stated that he had ordered a significant scale-down of the drills.

President Lee wrote, "This message from President Trump feels like a major decision reflecting deep consideration to build peace beyond hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula."

He continued, "Believing that a peace regime where there is no need to fight is the most complete security asset, we share President Trump's will and efforts to create conditions for dialogue to build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, even through the reduction of this South Korea-U.S. joint exercise and field maneuvers, and we express our respect for his decision."

President Lee reflected, "I am reminded of when I first met President Trump at the White House about a year ago, volunteering to act as a 'pacemaker' for peace on the Korean Peninsula, the world's only divided nation, and asking him to play the role of a 'peacemaker'."

He added, "During the Group of Seven (G7) summit and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, we also had serious discussions with President Trump for the restoration of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of the nuclear issue," explaining, "As I have stated several times, I will do my utmost in my role as a pacemaker facilitating President Trump's peacemaker activities."

He also stated, "Following the agreement between South Korea and the U.S., the Republic of Korea is rapidly increasing defense spending to achieve 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), thereby building sufficient capabilities to independently handle the defense of the Korean Peninsula," adding, "I fully agree with President Trump's determination that South Korea must take responsibility for its own security."

Regarding free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee said, "The South Korean government has stated on various occasions that it will actively join the international community's efforts, including the U.S., to restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," and added, "To this end, our government will continue to communicate closely with the U.S. side, as we have done so far, on various practical contribution measures within the bounds tolerable by South Korean laws and basic policies."

This is interpreted as a message mindful of President Trump's recent remark that he had asked South Korean President Lee Jae-myung if he was willing to join efforts for Iran's denuclearization, but received the answer "No thanks."

President Lee concluded his message by saying, "I look forward to reuniting with the respected President Trump in the United States before long."

(Photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.