President stresses national interests in diplomacy, acknowledges disagreements with US
President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that disagreements can exist between countries, while stressing that Korea must put its national interests first and “avoid submissive attitudes or excessive servility” in its diplomacy. Speaking to ministers and presidential aides during a live broadcast of the weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee made the remarks as disputes over intelligence…
President Lee Jae Myung addressed nation's priorities in diplomatic discussions, recognizing that differences can arise between countries. During a live broadcast of the weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean leader emphasized the importance of not adopting "submissive attitudes or excessive servility" when engaging with international partners.
Lee's comments came as tensions mounted over issues such as intelligence sharing, delays in issuing U.S. visas to prominent Koreans, and restricted access to senior White House officials. The disputes have fueled criticism from conservative politicians who accuse Lee's liberal government of eroding decades of mutual trust, while progressive figures argue that some U.S. concerns may be unfounded.
"Disagreements can exist between countries," Lee stated, "how can their interests always align when each pursues its own national interests?" He stressed the need for ongoing dialogue to clarify positions, resolve differences, and strive for mutual agreement. Lee advocated for efforts aimed at "minimizing differences and keeping them within manageable bounds."
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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