Wi Sung-lac, director of the Office of National Security at the presidential office, said on the 29th that at the Korea-U.S. summit held in Gyeongju, the two leaders agreed on the need for Korea's nuclear-powered submarine capability and decided to hold follow-up consultations.
Deputy Minister Wi said at a briefing at the International Media Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, that "at the luncheon summit that lasted about 87 minutes today, the two leaders discussed a comprehensive agenda, including not only the economy and industry but also alliance modernization, peace on the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs, and cooperation between Korea and the United States in shipbuilding and manufacturing."
He added, "First, the key outcome was confirming the U.S. side's intention to actively cooperate on several strategic issues for alliance modernization."
Deputy Minister Wi said, "President Lee Jae-myung highly valued the role of the Korea-U.S. alliance in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and, to respond to the rapidly changing regional security environment in the post-Cold War era, discussed increasing defense spending along with introducing nuclear-powered conventional submarines," adding, "President Lee said Korea would ease the U.S. burden to enhance our self-reliant defense capabilities."
Regarding this, "President Trump highly valued Korea's proactive role in the alliance and, in light of changing conditions such as North Korea's construction of nuclear submarines, agreed that Korea needs nuclear-powered submarine capabilities," and "suggested that the two sides move forward with follow-up consultations," he said.
Deputy Minister Wi also assessed President Trump's visit to Korea, saying it is meaningful in that "within roughly five months of the government's launch, we completed reciprocal visits by the Korea-U.S. leaders."
He went on, "Throughout the talks, it was clear that the personal bond between the two leaders grew stronger," adding, "In later conversations, President Trump showed such familiarity that he said to get in touch anytime if there was something difficult."