President Lee Jae-myung met with six U.S. lawmakers from the Congressional Study Group on Korea in Seoul on April 2 and reaffirmed his commitment to regaining wartime operational control from Washington. He stated that along with increasing defense spending, South Korea aims to reduce the U.S. burden and safeguard peace on the Korean Peninsula with its own capabilities. The remarks follow criticism from former President Donald Trump.
President Lee Jae-myung met with six members of the Congressional Study Group on Korea in Seoul on April 2. The delegation included Ami Bera (D-CA), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Patrick Harrigan (R-NC).
Lee said, "In addition to increasing defense spending, we aim to reduce the burden on the United States by regaining wartime operational control, and to take responsibility for safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia, particularly around the Korean Peninsula." He added, "We believe it is only right that the defense of the Korean Peninsula be carried out by our own strength and capabilities."
The remarks came after Donald Trump said Wednesday that South Korea was "not helpful" to the U.S. despite American troops "in harm's way" near a nuclear-armed North Korea. Lee emphasized the importance of Korean Peninsula denuclearization and dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. He reiterated his proposal for Trump to act as a "peacemaker" with Seoul as a "pacemaker."
The two sides exchanged views on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Korean Peninsula and Middle East issues. Lee urged support for cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding, as well as South Korea's U.S. investment package. He called for improvements to the U.S. visa system, citing last year's immigration raid at a Korean factory in Georgia, and passage of the Partner with Korea Act for 15,000 E-4 visas. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said they agreed on the need for close communication.
