Lee: Trump 'Clearly' Wants Talks With Kim — Seoul Rules Out Sending Troops To Iran

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that US President Donald Trump is clearly seeking dialogue with North Korea and that Seoul will not send troops to intervene in the conflict involving Iran. Lee said Seoul is pressing Washington to pursue talks with Pyongyang even though North Korea has not publicly responded to recent outreach.

Seoul Pushes For Dialogue

President Lee reiterated that he believes Trump wants negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and said Seoul is carrying out "preliminary coordination efforts" to facilitate a meeting between Washington and Pyongyang. Trump announced last month that he plans to meet Kim later this year and emphasized the value of "getting along" with the North Korean leader.

"It is clear Trump wants dialogue, and I am also urging President Trump to engage in dialogue," Lee told reporters at the presidential Blue House.

Lee cautioned that a summit remains difficult but "not impossible," and he urged all parties to make every effort to convert the possibility into reality. North Korea, which has strengthened ties with Russia in recent years, has not issued a clear response to the overtures.

Security Concerns And Military Exercises

Last month, South Korea and the United States conducted a shortened version of their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills after an order to scale back the exercises. The reduced drills, combined with Trump’s outreach to Pyongyang, have prompted concern in Seoul that it could be sidelined in any future nuclear negotiations with the North.

Trump has claimed Pyongyang possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons; Seoul estimates North Korea has roughly 80–120 warheads. The United States currently stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to strengthen defenses against the nuclear-armed North.

Economic Talks Ongoing

Seoul has pledged $350 billion in US investments under a deal reached last year intended to mitigate the impact of tariffs, but specific projects and final terms remain under negotiation. Lee described the talks as "very complex and difficult," saying some proposed terms were hard to accept and that discussions were ongoing.

No Troop Deployment To Iran

Lee made clear that South Korea will not deploy troops or military assets to intervene militarily in the conflict involving Iran. "There will be no involvement or intervention in the war. We will not deploy troops or military assets in that manner," he said, adding that Seoul will carry out only the minimum necessary measures to protect its merchant ships and oil shipping routes.

"We have upheld the principle of non-involvement and non-intervention in the war until now... And we will continue to uphold it going forward," Lee repeated.

His remarks followed reports that Seoul had considered a possible deployment to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a regional flashpoint after recent hostilities involving Iran.

Domestic Politics

Lee also rejected proposals to extend his constitutionally limited single term in office following debate over potential constitutional reforms. His approval ratings have declined to record lows amid criticism over real estate policies, controversial appointments, and concerns about stock market volatility.

Context

Trump has publicly complained that Washington has received "very little help" from some allies, citing South Korea in a recent interview. His repeated criticism of longstanding alliances has raised questions about US commitments to regional security in East Asia.