South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung board a plane at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, departing for the US after concluding a visit to Japan, August 24, 2025. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)

President Lee expressed his hope that Trump can open a new path toward peace with North Korea. President Trump said the two leaders could achieve great progress on North Korea, adding that he wants to meet leader Kim Jong Un this year.

Mr. Trump said South Korea should transfer to the US ownership of the land it currently leases for military bases. Upon arriving in Washington on Sunday, Mr. Lee said Seoul would find it difficult to accommodate Washington’s request, specifically, an expanded operational mandate for US Forces Korea, stressing that this sensitive matter can’t be resolved hastily.