South Korean president visits White House to tout new investment in US

(NEXSTAR) – President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met face-to-face in the Oval Office on Monday, touting what both leaders are calling a “historic partnership.”

The agreement includes tens of billions of dollars in new funding for U.S. industries, focusing on semiconductors, electric batteries, and critical shipbuilding projects along the American coast.

“We really sort of need each other,” President Trump said, praising South Korea’s role in advanced manufacturing.

“We love what they do. We love their product. We love their ships. We love a lot of the things that they make and they love what we have.”

South Korea’s president believes the partnership will drive innovation across multiple industries.

“We believe that there is a renaissance taking place not only in the shipbuilding sector, but also in the manufacturing industry, and I hope that Korea can be a part of that renaissance,” Lee said through a translator.

Both countries believe the deal could create hundreds of thousands of jobs while also strengthening supply chains.

Beyond economics, the meeting carried high diplomatic stakes. The White House says it views South Korea as a key ally in countering China’s influence in global technology and shipping.

On the security front, President Trump praised Lee’s handling of North Korea, while also hinting at a possible future meeting with Kim Jong Un.

“In the various leaders that I’ve dealt with, they were not approaching it properly, in my opinion, having to do with North Korea,” Trump said.

“I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong Un in the appropriate future.”