Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back heads to the meeting room at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday to attend the first Ulchi Cabinet Meeting presided over by President Lee Jae Myung. At left is National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. [Presidential Press Corps]
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back heads to the meeting room at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday to attend the first Ulchi Cabinet Meeting presided over by President Lee Jae Myung. At left is National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. [Presidential Press Corps]

Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday it hopes the friendly rapport between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will translate into substantive dialogue, after Trump ordered a significant reduction in joint US-South Korea military exercises. Amid concerns that the abrupt training cutback could weaken the combined defense posture, Seoul said it would continue security coordination grounded in the alliance while playing a "pacemaker" role to facilitate North Korea-US talks.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, speaking to reporters Tuesday, said he hoped Trump's message — in which the US president emphasized his good relationship with Kim while ordering the training reduction — would lead to meaningful dialogue between the two leaders. "We hope this will bring real progress toward peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and we look forward to discussions resuming toward that end," Wi said.

Trump had earlier directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, saying it was inappropriate to conduct large-scale drills with Seoul given his "very good relationship" with Kim.

Cheong Wa Dae said it was paying close attention to the possibility that Trump's message could serve as an opening for renewed North Korea-US talks, separate from security concerns over the training reduction itself.

"Our government has maintained a consistent position on this matter," Wi said. "We intend to make the necessary diplomatic efforts as a 'pacemaker' for North Korea-US dialogue, based on close coordination with the United States."

He added that in keeping with that stance, President Lee Jae Myung and Trump had already held lengthy consultations at the leader level on the sidelines of the G7 and NATO summits.

Wi also stressed that Seoul would coordinate closely with Washington to ensure the combined defense posture remained sound.

"Our government has been strengthening its self-reliant defense capabilities while continuously coordinating with the United States on joint exercises and training, based on the firm foundation of the alliance," Wi said. "We will continue that cooperation going forward."

Wi also addressed Trump's public criticism of South Korea's refusal to support US efforts on Iran. Trump had claimed that when he asked President Lee whether Seoul would join efforts to denuclearize Iran, Lee replied "No thanks" — and Trump expressed frustration, raising the issue alongside the joint training dispute and asking why the United States should be involved in defending South Korea.

Wi pushed back on the characterization that Seoul had flatly rejected Washington's request. "From the outset, we have been actively engaged in discussions with the international community, including the United States, on the war with Iran and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," he said. "We have been reviewing practical military contributions we can make, taking into account the readiness situation on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures." The remarks appeared intended to convey that Seoul had been weighing possible forms of support rather than issuing a unilateral refusal.

On Iran's denuclearization, Wi said South Korea had a particularly acute interest in global nuclear nonproliferation given that North Korea had violated its nonproliferation commitments by pursuing nuclear weapons. "By the same token, we are deeply engaged with the international community on the question of Iran's denuclearization," he said. "We will maintain this position and continue to coordinate with the United States and the broader international community."


sjy@heraldcorp.com