South Korean President Asks Trump to Push North Korea Peace Effort

Seoul says North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs continue to advance.

President Donald Trump greets South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House on Aug. 25, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung asked U.S. President Donald Trump to help pursue a peaceful solution to the North Korean issue during their first in-person conversation at the G7 summit in France.

According to South Korea’s presidential office, Lee told Trump, “Just like you strived to resolve issues in the Middle East, please play a role in finding a peaceful solution to the North Korea issue.”

The exchange took place on June 16, coming as Washington and Seoul continue to strengthen military coordination while North Korea advances its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

U.S. and South Korean officials met in Seoul on June 11 to discuss strengthening nuclear deterrence and military readiness as North Korea expands its nuclear weapons program and increases production of weapons-grade nuclear material.

Lee warned on June 8 that North Korea continues to expand its nuclear capabilities despite international sanctions and diplomatic pressure. He said Pyongyang is producing enough nuclear material to build roughly 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually.

Lee also said North Korea’s ballistic missile program has “almost reached its final stage.” The South Korean president called for what he described as a realistic approach toward Pyongyang.

As an immediate goal, he advocated negotiations aimed at halting the production of nuclear material and preventing further development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Those comments came shortly after North Korean state media reported on June 4 that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a facility involved in producing nuclear materials and called for an “exponential” increase in the country’s nuclear forces.

Washington–Seoul Ties

The meeting at the G7 summit followed several recent exchanges between U.S. and South Korean officials.

Lee and Trump held a telephone conversation on May 17 and reaffirmed bilateral cooperation and the outcome of the recent U.S.–China summit in Beijing.

During a May 12 meeting at the Pentagon with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States expected allies to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder” in response to what he described as growing global threats.

According to a U.S. Department of War readout, the two officials discussed alliance modernization, the transition of wartime operational control, and efforts to strengthen the combined U.S.–South Korea defense posture. Ahn also outlined plans to increase defense spending and expand key military capabilities.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosts an enhanced honor cordon and meeting welcoming South Korean Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-Back to the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on May 11, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

Last year, Lee and Trump met during an October summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Following that summit, Trump said the United States would share nuclear propulsion technology with South Korea to support Seoul’s effort to develop a nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

He said the move reflected the strength of the alliance and concerns about security threats from China and North Korea.

The latest exchange at the G7 summit suggests that both governments are seeking to maintain close cooperation on security matters while also exploring the possibility of renewed diplomacy with North Korea.

Openness to Talks

Kim has signaled that relations with Washington could improve under certain conditions. He said in February that the future of relations with the United States “depends entirely on the attitude of the U.S. side.”

North Korea could improve relations with the United States, he said, if Washington abandons what Pyongyang considers a hostile policy and recognizes the country’s current status. However, Kim warned that North Korea would continue preparing for confrontation and would respond if the United States maintains a confrontational approach.

Kim met Trump in 2018 and 2019 during Trump’s first term, but negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program later stalled.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) walks with U.S. President Donald Trump during a break in talks at their historic U.S.–North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images

In September 2025, Kim said he could meet Trump again if Washington were to abandon its demand for North Korea’s denuclearization.

During the same period, Kim rejected talks with Seoul and said Pyongyang would continue developing its military capabilities, including what it describes as its right to conduct preemptive strikes.

Kim also said he retained positive memories of his previous meetings with Trump and saw no reason to avoid future discussions if U.S. policy were to change.

Trump said in October 2025 that he would “love to meet” with Kim during his Asia trip, but no meeting ultimately took place.

Last week, Trump posted a photograph of himself with Kim on Truth Social without a caption, drawing attention to the possibility of renewed engagement between Washington and Pyongyang.