Trump Slams South Korea Ahead of Summit

• President Trump criticized South Korea on social media hours before a summit.
• He questioned the country’s recent political events, citing a “Purge or Revolution.”
• The summit agenda includes defense spending, trade, and North Korea.

GG News Bureau
Washington, 25th Aug: US President Donald Trump slammed South Korea on social media just hours before a summit with its new President, Lee Jae Myung, fueling tensions over defense spending and trade. Without providing evidence, President Trump wrote that there “Seems like a Purge or Revolution” in South Korea, adding that “We can’t have that and do business there.”

The remarks set a difficult tone for the high-stakes talks with Mr. Lee, who took office in June following a snap election. His predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, was removed after attempting to impose martial law. The South Korean presidential office said they were looking into the matter, while the White House offered no immediate response to questions about the post.

The summit agenda is packed with complex negotiations. A key point of contention is defense spending. Trump is expected to pressure Lee to commit billions more toward the upkeep of the 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea. The US is also pushing for “strategic flexibility” for its troops, which would allow them to address regional security issues beyond just North Korea, a demand Lee has indicated would be difficult for Seoul to accept.

On trade, the two countries are still finalizing the details of a recent deal to avoid new US tariffs. South Korea has promised billions of dollars in investments in the United States, particularly to support the ailing US shipbuilding sector. Lee is also trying to chart a balanced path, seeking cooperation with the US while avoiding antagonizing China, which is South Korea’s top trade partner.

Lee, who arrived in Washington after a stop in Tokyo to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister, has said he hopes to make a good impression and avoid any “unpleasant surprises” during his first summit with the American president. As one analyst noted, Trump’s behavior “nicely illustrated how unreliable and capricious he is for allies.”