"Trump Trying to Adjust 'ROK-U.S. Alliance' to Suit Changing Times"

[Anchor]

Amid growing pressure from the United States surrounding troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz and investment in the U.S., President Lee Jae-myung has clarified his stance on the South Korea-U.S. relationship through an interview with a French media outlet. President Lee evaluated that President Trump has "the will to adjust the South Korea-U.S. alliance to fit the times."

Park Yerim reports from Nice.

[Reporter]

The Mayor of Nice presents a commemorative medal to President Lee Jae-myung and the First Lady upon their arrival in the southern French city of Nice.

Ahead of his state visit to France, President Lee conducted a written interview with the French daily Le Monde.

Regarding the South Korea-U.S. relationship, President Lee stated, "I do not believe that U.S. President Trump is questioning the sustainability of the South Korea-U.S. alliance." He added, "I see it as an intention to move beyond traditional perspectives on the alliance and adjust it to fit changing generational realities."

As the Trump administration continues to make overt pressure-filled remarks and measures toward the South Korean government on issues such as investments in the U.S., South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, and troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee has essentially emphasized that the bilateral relationship remains unshaken and is merely undergoing adjustments.

President Lee also mentioned increases in defense spending and the expansion of military capabilities, explaining that South Korea is increasing its role and burden within the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to hold a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris tomorrow night, September 8, Korean time.

President Macron hosted a multilateral summit via video link last April for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and coordination on the troop deployment issue requested by the U.S. is expected to be handled as an agenda item.

This afternoon, Korean time, President Lee attended the Lumiere Summit, an international film and visual content summit, as a co-chair and announced a South Korea-France investment plan.

[President Lee Jae-myung : This contains a commitment that over the next five years, South Korea and France will each invest 500 million euros, which is approximately 800 billion won, in the film and visual content industries.]

The Cheong Wa Dae stated that this will serve as an opportunity to diversify the overseas expansion of K-content.

(Video by Yoon Hyung | Video Editing by Lee Seunghee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.