South Korea’s Lee to depart for Washington to hold 1st in-person meeting with Trump

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to conclude a two-day visit to Japan on Sunday before heading to Washington for his first face-to-face summit with US President Donald Trump, according to Yonhap News.

In Tokyo, Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday, agreeing to boost cooperation on global trade and security, and strengthen trilateral ties with the US.

Lee said choosing Japan as his first summit destination highlighted its role as a "neighbor sharing the front yard" and an "indispensable partner." He will meet Japanese lawmakers before departing.

In Washington, Lee will hold his first face-to-face talks with Trump, focusing on trade and security after a July tariff deal between the two countries.

The leaders are also expected to finalize details of a trade agreement that cut US tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15% in exchange for Seoul’s $350 billion investment pledges.

Afterward, Lee is expected to join a business roundtable, speak at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and visit the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia before returning to Seoul.

South Korea is one of the oldest military allies of the US in the Asia-Pacific region, hosting more than 28,500 American troops under a defense treaty.