OMM Redaksiyası
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump welcomed “significant progress” in talks on strategic investment projects during a meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the South Korean presidential office, the meeting followed discussions on plans to implement a $350 billion investment package. A gas-fired power plant project in Texas is being considered as the first potential investment under the package. Possible investments in nuclear energy and an Alaska liquefied natural gas project are also on the agenda.
Investment package details under discussion
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the two leaders viewed the progress in discussions on strategic projects positively. He said the broad framework of the investment package was nearly complete, while talks on the details and how the package would be announced were continuing.
According to a joint fact sheet issued after a summit in November last year, Lee and Trump agreed to deepen cooperation in nuclear fuel enrichment and reprocessing, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding.
Dialogue with North Korea
Wi Sung-lac said Trump had reaffirmed his readiness for dialogue with North Korea. The leaders agreed to maintain close contact to promote the peace process.
In an address to the UN General Assembly, the South Korean president said he would support efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang and establish a framework for lasting peace. According to the South Korean official, Lee asked Trump to help advance contacts with North Korea, and the US president said he was ready to do so.
The official also said Trump had noted that he maintained good relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, no information was provided indicating that concrete contacts were currently taking place.
Other agreements
Lee said a planned meeting between the US and Chinese leaders on Sept. 24 would be significant for regional developments, including South Korea-China relations, and expressed hope that it would be successful.
The sides discussed South Korea’s plans to increase defense spending and speeding up talks on Seoul’s initiative to develop nuclear-powered submarines. They agreed to hold further consultations on various issues in Washington as soon as possible.
During the meeting, Trump also raised the possibility of playing golf with Lee. Lee suggested that the two leaders could play golf on the sidelines of the G20 summit to be held in Miami in December.
