Deputy Minister Kang Hoon on the 28th evaluated, "This visit to the United States by President Lee Jae-myung has evolved the Korea-U.S. alliance into a future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance that encompasses security, economy, and technology beyond military aspects."
On that day, Deputy Minister Kang held a press briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office and stated, "The collaboration between the two countries has strengthened, creating new avenues for the economy, and both nations will continue to stay ahead in securing future food sources. Now, we can call the bilateral relationship a 'technology economic alliance.'"
He continued, "Although we have overcome a significant hurdle, there is still a long way to go, and given that international circumstances are fluctuating, the negotiations with the United States are in a state where we must continue to negotiate, which has now become the new normal."
Deputy Minister Kang explained, "Many media outlets ask why no negotiation documents have been released between Korea and the U.S., but the negotiations between the two countries are quite challenging. The investment issue is a complex negotiation connected to other security issues, including the U.S. troops stationed in Korea."
He added, "In the end, there is a high possibility that the outcome of the discussions will be formalized, but this too will take time," and introduced, "Internally, there was a judgment that taking our time is not tactically bad."
He pointed out, "Establishing a solid trust between President Lee Jae-myung and President Donald Trump is also one of the important achievements."
He remarked, "Ultimately, diplomacy is fundamentally a human endeavor. Trust between leaders is the foundation and starting point for the development of national relations," and emphasized, "The two leaders sharing a blueprint for the future of the bilateral relationship and agreeing on the necessity of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will lay the groundwork for the future development of Korea-U.S. relations."
He also shared anecdotes from the summit. Deputy Minister Kang stated, "President Trump introduced the menu for the Korean participants as 'handwritten.' In particular, he mentioned that the nameplate could become a souvenir, and he signed it personally," adding, "He even signed the red 'Make America Great Again' cap that the aides received as souvenirs. I got the impression of an American uncle who is warm and friendly."
He added, "As a result, President Trump ended up signing 40 to 50 times, and just looking at this made it impossible to shake off the feeling that he put effort into it."
He stated, "This meeting was prepared under difficult circumstances, but President Lee displayed outstanding capabilities by making direct judgments based on information from various channels and organizing messages."