Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the significance of South Korea's alliance with the United States during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, while advising against adopting a submissive stance in diplomatic matters.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the president's remarks come amid concerns over tensions in the Seoul-Washington alliance, particularly regarding limitations faced by South Korea in intelligence sharing with the U.S.
Lee underscored the need for diplomacy to focus on protecting national interests and maintaining South Korea's dignity, cautioning against any submissive approaches. He stressed that the guiding principle of South Korea's diplomacy is pragmatism, with national interests being paramount.
The president's comments also addressed the ongoing issues with intelligence sharing, which have reportedly been affected by previous remarks from South Korea's unification minister regarding North Korea's uranium enrichment facilities. These remarks were seen by Washington as a unilateral disclosure of shared intelligence.
Lee reiterated the critical role of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in the country's diplomacy, acknowledging the potential for differences between nations. He advocated for these differences to be debated and resolved to a manageable level, highlighting recent achievements in U.S. investment projects as serving South Korea's interests.
Additionally, Lee called for the acceleration of policies aimed at reducing economic inequality, highlighting home supply, job creation, and inclusive financing as key priorities. He also praised the successful return of a South Korean container ship from its maiden Arctic voyage, advocating for further exploration of Arctic shipping routes and the development of Busan as a maritime hub.