Seoul – President Lee Jae Myung told reporters on Friday that South Korea will not deploy military forces to the Middle East in a way that could draw the nation into war. “There won’t be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly,” Lee said, emphasizing that no military assets will be sent for combat purposes.
Limited protection of shipping
Lee added that South Korea must still take “the minimum as other countries do to protect our commercial shipping and crude shipments, and also the safety of our people.” The government is reviewing a possible naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, though the idea remains unpopular domestically.
U.S. investment talks
When asked about progress on the U.S. investment commitments under the bilateral trade deal, Lee said the main obstacle is the commercial viability of the package. South Korea pledged last year to invest $350 billion in U.S. manufacturing in exchange for Washington lowering tariffs on Korean imports to 15 percent. A parliamentary briefing on the plan was postponed and is now expected next week.
Potential Trump‑Kim summit
Lee said a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could be possible in the coming months, but many factors must align. “What’s clear is that President Trump wants talks, and I want him to as well, and we’re continuing coordination to make dialogue between the North and the U.S. possible,” Lee said.
No plans for a second term
Lee, whose approval ratings have slipped recently, reiterated his commitment to improving the lives of Koreans and confirmed his term will end in 2030 as required by the Constitution. He denied any intention to seek a consecutive term, noting that the presidency is limited to a single five‑year term and a sitting president cannot amend that rule.
Domestic reforms
The president also announced plans to ease the concentration of government functions by designating Seoul as the economic capital and Sejong as the political capital, a move that would shift many agencies to the central region about 120 km south of Seoul.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
