Lee and Trump Hold High-Stakes Summit in Gyeongju to Strengthen Alliance and Discuss Regional Security

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held their second summit in two months on Wednesday in Gyeongju, focusing on alliance modernization, defense cooperation, trade negotiations, and peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.
Meeting at the Gyeongju National Museum, President Lee pledged to increase South Korea’s defense budget and requested U.S. approval for Seoul to obtain fuel for nuclear-powered submarines. He explained that such capability would strengthen maritime defense and reduce the operational burden on U.S. forces in the region.
Both leaders discussed progress on formalizing agreements in trade and security following their earlier meeting in Washington. Talks centered on revising South Korea’s civil nuclear cooperation agreement and narrowing differences over Seoul’s $350 billion U.S. investment package, with the aim of issuing a joint statement after the summit.
The meeting also addressed North Korea’s continued silence toward Trump’s peace overtures. Lee reaffirmed his role as a “peacemaker,” while Trump emphasized patience and optimism, saying he remains committed to finding a path to stability on the peninsula.
President Trump was awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest honor, for his contributions to peace. The summit concluded with symbolic gestures of friendship, including Lee’s presentation of a replica of a Silla-era golden crown, representing hopes for a new era of peace and cooperation.