Trump open to Kim talks, voices concern over Seoul leadership

Donald Trump said he is open to new talks with North Korea and trade renegotiations with Seoul, despite lashing out at South Korea’s leadership during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Washington on Monday.

Trump made the remarks as he welcomed Lee to the Oval Office for high-stakes talks, marking the South Korean president’s first visit to Washington since taking office in June following a snap election. Lee replaced Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed after impeachment proceedings related to a failed martial law attempt in December.

Moments before the bilateral meeting, Trump accused Seoul’s leadership of mishandling the fallout of the political crisis, a move that cast a shadow over the visit.

Lee, seeking to maintain strong ties with Washington, praised Trump and expressed hope that the U.S. would resume dialogue with Pyongyang.

"I'd like to have a meeting," Trump told reporters when asked about future talks with Kim.

Trump also said he was open to negotiating elements of the existing U.S.-South Korea trade agreement, which he has previously criticised as imbalanced.

South Korea’s economy remains deeply tied to the U.S., both through trade and security guarantees, with nearly 30,000 American troops stationed on the peninsula. Trump has long accused Seoul of benefiting disproportionately from U.S. military support, once calling the country a “money machine” that takes advantage of Washington’s protection.

Copied