Lee urges Trump to solve North Korea issue after Middle East deal

President Lee Jae Myung attends a welcome reception for guest countries alongside U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and other world leaders during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung asked U.S. President Donald Trump to take the lead in peacefully resolving the North Korean issue, during a brief conversation on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, the presidential office said.

Senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Trump asked Lee about recent developments in inter-Korean relations in a written briefing, Tuesday.

Lee replied that he hoped Trump would lead efforts for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue, just as he had helped conclude the Middle East conflict. Kang was referring to the tentative U.S.-Iran peace deal announced Sunday, which ends more than three months of war in the region.

"President Trump responded by expressing his willingness to work toward resolving the North Korean issue," Kang added.

The exchange took place during a group photo session at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where South Korea was invited as a guest country to the annual gathering of the seven member states — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

As leaders assembled for the photograph, Lee approached Trump and the two spoke for roughly 30 seconds. The interaction was unscheduled rather than a formal bilateral meeting, and Cheong Wa Dae said Seoul and Washington are continuing to coordinate a date for an official summit.

A photo posted by U.S. President Donald Trump on his social media account, Saturday, showing him walking alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after their summit in Singapore in June 2018. Image captured from Truth Social

Trump had earlier fueled speculation about a possible revival of diplomacy with Pyongyang after posting a photograph of himself walking alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong-un following their first summit in Singapore in June 2018, on social media Saturday.

The post contained no captions, but diplomatic observers interpreted it as a signal that Trump may be considering reopening talks with Kim as the Middle East conflict enters a postwar phase.

Trump has repeatedly struck a friendly tone toward Kim since returning to office for a second term in January 2025, following his first term from 2017 to 2021.

A Unification Ministry official said Wednesday that Seoul would closely monitor developments without making any assumptions, noting that various scenarios have been raised regarding the prospects for renewed U.S.-North Korea dialogue.

The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a presidential advisory body, projected last week that talks between Washington and Pyongyang could resume around the time of the U.S. midterm elections in early November.

Later Tuesday, Lee was seated next to Trump at the summit dinner and the two leaders engaged in an in-depth conversation on matters of mutual interest, reinforcing friendly ties, according to the presidential office.

Ahead of the dinner, cameras captured Lee introducing first lady Kim Hea Kyung to Trump in English as "my wife." Trump shook hands with the first lady and appeared pleased to meet her, while Kim responded in English, saying, "Nice to meet you."

Lee is attending the G7 summit as a guest for the second consecutive year, following last year's gathering in Canada.