President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Donald Trump held an unexpected meeting on September 22 in New York, where they agreed to expedite discussions on key issues that had stalled, including nuclear-powered submarines, nuclear agreements, shipbuilding cooperation, and the transfer of wartime operational control.
This meeting comes approximately 14 months after a $350 billion investment proposal was introduced during tariff negotiations last July, marking a significant step in U.S. investment negotiations.
A senior official from the Blue House stated at a press conference in New York, "The two leaders welcomed the progress in investment discussions and are aware that the major framework is nearly complete, although the specifics of the announcement will be determined by the negotiation teams."
The meeting took place for about 30 minutes starting at 7:20 PM in a separate space near the reception hosted by President Trump and his wife. After the meeting, both leaders joined the reception together.
Initially, the Blue House had indicated that no separate summit would be pursued during this visit to New York, as the investment negotiations were facing difficulties, making it hard to confirm the meeting's feasibility.
The senior official explained, "There were significant twists as the investment discussions reached their final stages, and the overall negotiations were uncertain, which is why we did not pursue a summit. However, as discussions progressed well, we quickly moved to arrange the meeting, which was successfully held."
During the talks, specific investment projects such as the Texas gas combined cycle power plant, U.S. nuclear power plant construction, and Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) development were not discussed in detail. The two leaders focused on evaluating the progress made through challenging negotiations and agreed to expedite follow-up procedures.
The senior official noted, "There was no mention of specific projects, but both leaders acknowledged the difficulties of the negotiations and confirmed their commitment to implement the agreements swiftly." The timing for the official announcement of the U.S. investment negotiations has not yet been determined.
The leaders also discussed issues related to nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment, spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, shipbuilding cooperation, and the transfer of wartime operational control, as outlined in the joint statement from the Korea-U.S. summit last November.
The senior official remarked, "The investment discussions had not made significant progress due to various factors, including the U.S. investment issue. Now that the investment negotiations have advanced, there is a need to restore and accelerate related discussions." While no specific timeline for follow-up discussions was set, they agreed to proceed as soon as possible.
The rebuilding of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, which President Trump has shown interest in, was also a key agenda item. Both sides agreed to expedite follow-up discussions on Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation.
Significant time was also dedicated to the transfer of wartime operational control. President Yoon emphasized the South Korean government's commitment to increasing defense spending and taking on greater responsibility for the defense of the Korean Peninsula, highlighting the need to advance related discussions promptly.
Options for resuming dialogue with North Korea were also discussed. President Yoon expressed hopes for President Trump to contribute to dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula, to which President Trump responded positively.
The senior official reported, "President Trump mentioned that he maintains a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and that he is one of the few people with such a relationship." However, he did not provide details on any ongoing contacts or communications with North Korea.
Despite speculation, the issue of deploying forces to the Strait of Hormuz was not addressed during the meeting. The senior official clarified that while various issues were discussed, there was no specific mention of this topic, and it was not intentionally excluded from the agenda.
National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lak highlighted the significance of the New York schedule, emphasizing the enhancement of South Korea's status as a global responsible power, the expansion of international support for the peace coexistence policy on the Korean Peninsula, and the creation of tangible national interests through communication with leaders of major countries.
He added, "President Yoon stated in his keynote speech at the UN General Assembly that South Korea will constructively contribute to finding solutions to common challenges facing humanity, such as artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, and energy security, while also emphasizing the need for UN reform and solidarity among constructive contributor countries."
Furthermore, "President Trump reaffirmed his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea," and the two leaders agreed to communicate closely as peacemakers and facilitators to establish sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, both leaders mentioned the possibility of a golf meeting during the upcoming G20 summit scheduled for December.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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