South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he left the G7 summit in France with a personal gift—a pen from U.S. President Donald Trump—and a promise to play golf together, following what he described as productive discussions on North Korea.
Speaking on Thursday after attending the summit in Evian-les-Bains as a guest partner, Lee said he had an extended conversation with Trump during a dinner for world leaders, adding that the talks showed signs of progress on issues related to North Korea.
“We had an in-depth conversation for about 90 minutes about peace on the Korean peninsula and South Korea-U.S. relations, and made significant progress,” Lee wrote on X.
A Gesture
The next day Trump handed Lee the pen he had been using to sign documents at the summit, a gesture that Lee suggested echoed their own first summit, when Trump received a pen Lee used.
Lee said Trump also talked over dinner about playing golf with him and first lady Kim Hea Kyung.
“I thought it was just a passing remark, but it seems I should prepare,” Lee said, adding that Trump raised the matter twice.
“He said he would play golf with my wife and me, and my wife even sealed the promise by hooking fingers,” Lee said. “Then, after today’s luncheon, he again said we should definitely play golf together.”
While posing for a group photograph earlier, Lee asked Trump to take the lead in pursuing a peaceful resolution of tension with neighbouring North Korea, Lee’s office said.
Strengthening Partnership
The presidential Blue House said the leaders also discussed mutually beneficial efforts such as shipbuilding, and agreed on the importance of cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Seoul and Washington are close security allies, though ties in recent years have been strained at times over issues such as U.S. tariffs and the sharing of defence costs.
Trump described Lee as a “strong leader,” Lee’s office said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
