Lee tells Trump North Korea cannot be handled like other nuclear issues

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he told U.S. President Donald Trump that the North Korean nuclear issue should not be handled the same way as those of other countries, during their recent conversation at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France.

Lee revealed details of his conversation with Trump at a press briefing on the results of his 10-day trip to Europe that ended Thursday. The two leaders spoke with each other on several occasions during the summit, including at a dinner banquet on Tuesday.

During the conversation, Trump expressed regret for failing to take appropriate action on the North Korean nuclear issue before the country effectively acquired nuclear weapons, Lee said. In response, Lee said he clearly told Trump that the North Korean nuclear issue should not be handled the same way as those of other countries. Trump agreed with the point, Lee said, adding, "He (Trump) seemed to be concerned because of the lack of a proper solution."

Coverage comparison

Reports from both Al Jazeera and Yonhap News — English focus on Lee's press briefing on the G7 summit, though they emphasize different aspects. Al Jazeera's coverage highlights Trump's intention to shift focus to North Korea's nuclear programme now that Washington has reached an agreement with Iran, framing the conversation within broader US foreign policy shifts. Yonhap's reports center on Lee's detailed account of his dialogue with Trump and his proposals, including the phased approach to North Korea and his request to the Pope.

Differences in detail include Al Jazeera's mention of Lee telling Trump that sanctions against North Korea were "ineffective," citing deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, a point not featured in the Yonhap extracts. Yonhap's reports uniquely include Lee's proposal for a phased approach to the North Korean nuclear issue and his request for Pope Leo XIV to visit North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone.

Key Claims

  • Lee Jae Myung said he told Trump that the North Korean nuclear issue should not be handled the same way as those of other countries, a claim carried by both Al Jazeera and Yonhap.
  • Trump expressed regret for not taking appropriate action on the North Korean nuclear issue before the country effectively acquired nuclear weapons, according to Lee, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Lee proposed a phased approach to the nuclear issue, involving first halting production of nuclear materials and shipping existing nuclear materials overseas, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Lee asked Pope Leo XIV to visit North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Lee told Trump sanctions against North Korea were "ineffective," pointing to deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, a claim carried by Al Jazeera.
  • Trump intends to shift focus to North Korea's nuclear programme now that Washington has reached an agreement with Iran, as stated by Al Jazeera.