By Steve Holland, David Brunnstrom and Hyunjoo Jin
WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he wanted to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and that he was open to further trade talks with South Korea even as he lobbed new criticisms at the visiting Asian ally.
South Korea’s new President, Lee Jae Myung, arrived for talks just after Trump criticized the South Korean government, apparently over its handling of investigations related to his conservative predecessor’s December attempt to impose martial law.
The remarks cast a dark mood over high-stakes talks for Lee, who took office in June after a snap election that followed Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and removal.
Welcoming Lee to the White House’s Oval Office, Trump said he was open to negotiating aspects of the U.S.-South Korean trade deal and to meeting Kim.
“I’d like to have a meeting,” Trump told reporters. “I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong Un in the appropriate future.”
Lee showered praise on Trump and said he hoped for Trump to engage with North Korea.
South Korea’s economy relies heavily on the U.S., with Washington underwriting its security with troops and nuclear deterrence. Trump has called Seoul a “money machine” that takes advantage of American military protection.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali, Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Josh Smith, Hyun Joo Jin, Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in Seoul; Writing by Josh Smith and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Ed Davies, Michael Perry, Rod Nickel)
