Donald Trump met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House with North Korea as a central subject. Trump said he would like to meet Kim Jong Un this year and stated he has very good relationships with Kim and North Korea, even better than almost anyone except Kim Yo Jong. Lee expressed hopes to expand cooperation on shipbuilding and manufacturing, and Trump said he would have serious trade discussions with Lee. Trump also pushed for U.S. ownership of land where American bases sit and urged South Korea to increase its financial contribution for U.S. troops.
"I have very good relationships with Kim Jong Un and North Korea," Trump told reporters as he sat alongside Lee. He even suggested that he had a better relationship with Kim than almost anyone but Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong. "A lot of people would say, 'That's terrible.' No it's good," Trump added, recalling meeting with North Korea's leader during his first term.
"We spent a lot of money building a fort, and there was a contribution made by South Korea, but I would like to see if we could get rid of the lease and get ownership of the land where we have a massive military base," Trump said. The US president pressed the ally to pay more to host some 28,500 American troops.
South Korea's recently anointed president told Trump he hoped to expand cooperation on shipbuilding and other manufacturing sectors. Trump said he would have serious discussions with Lee on the US-South Korean trade relationship. Relations between the two leaders in front of the media appeared friendly, particularly when Lee heaped praise on Trump for his peace efforts.
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