First OPCON Transfer Discussion with Trump; Emphasizes 'Inter-Korean, US, and Chinese Cooperation'

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung, who is currently visiting New York, held a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss security issues between South Korea and the United States, including the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), as well as North Korea issues. Earlier, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, he emphasized cooperation among South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and China for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Kang Min-u reports from New York.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung, who visited New York on the occasion of the UN General Assembly, held his third bilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The surprise summit, virtually finalized on the day of the meeting, lasted for 30 minutes in a separate room during a reception hosted by President Trump and his wife.

The two leaders engaged in light conversation on topics such as golf and discussed a wide range of pending matters, including security and investment in the United States.

[Wi Sung-lac / Director of the National Security Office: "We confirmed our shared commitment to further deepen cooperation between South Korea and the United States in areas such as nuclear submarine fuel, enrichment and reprocessing, shipbuilding cooperation, and the transfer of wartime operational control..."]

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official highlighted the significance of the meeting, noting that it was the first time the transfer of wartime operational control had been discussed with President Trump.

President Lee also expressed his hope to President Trump that Washington would help resolve issues through North Korea-U.S. dialogue at a time when inter-Korean contacts are virtually nonexistent, and President Trump reportedly responded by noting that he maintains a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In his earlier keynote address to the UN General Assembly, President Lee stated that he would pursue cooperation based on mutual respect for each other's systems and acknowledgment of differences between the two Koreas.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "We will respect the North on the international stage as well, and we will cooperate on what can be cooperated on."]

This is interpreted as an effort to bring North Korea to the dialogue table by leveraging areas such as public health, disaster response, and the climate crisis within the international community.

President Lee also voiced his commitment to pursue multilateral dialogue among relevant nations, including South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and China, to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he proposed a "coalition of constructive contributing countries" to resolve energy supply chain challenges resulting from potential blockades of the strait.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "Countries with the capability and willingness to provide global public goods should join hands first to broaden the space for cooperation."]

As President Lee Jae-myung has delivered consecutive messages aimed at breaking the ice for dialogue with Pyongyang through both the bilateral summit and his UN General Assembly address, attention is focused on whether North Korea will respond.

Camera by Jeong Sang-bo | Video Editing by Jeon Min-gyu | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.