Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss the results of Trump's recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Cheong Wa Dae said. The phone talks, requested by Seoul, lasted 30 minutes and aimed to gain insights into the U.S.-China summit outcomes.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump shared the results of his discussions with Xi, focusing on peace on the Korean Peninsula and the implementation of a joint fact sheet from the bilateral trade deal reached last year. The leaders engaged in sincere discussions, addressing the critical issues linked to regional peace and economic cooperation.
The conversation between Lee and Trump occurred while both nations are dealing with various pending issues, such as the transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul. Additionally, Seoul is pushing to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, which adds another layer of complexity to their bilateral discussions.
This phone call marked the second direct communication between the two leaders since their first conversation on June 6 last year, shortly after Lee assumed office. It was also their first direct interaction since their summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in late October.
Trump's recent trip to Beijing concluded last Friday after a three-day visit. During the summit, Trump and Xi covered a wide range of topics, including trade and the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. They agreed that Iran should never possess nuclear weapons and emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.