President Lee Jae-myung pledged to resolve diplomatic friction with allies while asserting South Korea’s sovereign strength and economic resilience.
SEOUL
President Lee Jae Myung announced that South Korea aims to resolve ongoing friction with its traditional allies through a lens of mutual respect and sovereign confidence. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee emphasized that international cooperation must be built on “common sense and principles” to ensure healthy, future-oriented relationships.
The President’s comments follow recent diplomatic tension with Washington. Reports suggest the United States partially suspended sharing intelligence regarding North Korea after a South Korean minister publicly identified a specific site as a uranium enrichment center. While the U.S. suspected a leak of classified data, Seoul maintains the information came from public sources. Additionally, a major data breach at the e-commerce giant Coupang has added further strain to the bilateral relationship.
Amid these challenges, President Lee pivoted to a message of national strength. He highlighted South Korea’s military as the fifth-strongest in the world, noting that the country’s defense spending now dwarfs North Korea’s entire economy. Lee remains committed to regaining wartime operational control of his nation’s troops from the U.S. by 2030, a power held by Washington since the Korean War.
On the home front, Lee shared positive news regarding the economy, which grew by 1.7 percent in the first quarter. Despite this recovery, he warned that high oil prices and global conflicts still pose risks. He urged officials to remain vigilant, promising that the government would work tirelessly to protect national security and sustain economic momentum during these uncertain times.
