(3rd LD) Lee stresses importance of U.S. alliance, says submissive stance should be shunned

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SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday stressed the importance of the country's alliance with the United States but also noted a submissive stance should be shunned in pursuing diplomacy.

The president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, amid concerns over apparent friction in the Seoul-Washington alliance, highlighted by South Korea facing limitations in intelligence sharing by the U.S.

Lee said diplomacy should be focused on safeguarding national interests, while emphasizing that differences can arise between countries.

"Diplomacy should be pursued in a way that always upholds South Korea's dignity and safeguards its national interests (while) any submissive or kowtowing stance should be shunned," the president noted.

"The guiding principle of South Korea's diplomacy is pragmatism. The most important thing for South Korea is its national interests," Lee stressed.

President Lee Jae Myung attends a Cabinet meeting in Seoul on Oct. 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

His remarks come as South Korea continues to face restrictions on intelligence sharing by Washington, reportedly over the South Korean unification minister's previous remarks identifying North Korea's Kusong as a site housing a uranium enrichment facility. Washington is believed to have protested the remarks as a unilateral disclosure of intelligence shared by the U.S.

Some conservative local news outlets have accused the unification minister of jeopardizing the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

The president also said the South Korea-U.S. alliance is "very important" and constitutes the main axis of its diplomacy, which needs to be further advanced, acknowledging that differences could always arise between countries.

"(Differences) should be continuously debated, raised and coordinated," the president also noted, underscoring the importance of minimizing such differences to "a manageable level."

President Lee Jae Myung (C) attends a Cabinet meeting in Seoul on Oct. 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee referred to Seoul's recent deal with Washington on U.S. investment projects, saying that South Korea had achieved results that best served its national interests compared with other countries, through the "longest" negotiations.

"Going forward, (the government) will do its utmost to safeguard the country's national interests. When there are differences or misunderstandings, it will resolve or coordinate them," the president noted.

The previous day, South Korea's Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha said that progress has been made in improving intelligence cooperation between Seoul and Washington, although she acknowledged ongoing limitations in high-level communication with the White House.

"I acknowledge that there are limitations in our communication with the White House," Kang said during a parliamentary audit at the South Korean Embassy in Washington.

Lee also instructed officials to speed up policies aimed at alleviating economic polarization and inequality, citing home supply, job creation and "inclusive financing" as three key social policy priorities.

"Now is the time to focus on narrowing the chasm of polarization and lowering the wall of inequality to facilitate greater growth and sustainable development," the president said.

Turning to other issues, the president hailed the safe return of a South Korean container ship to the country's southeastern port city of Busan following its maiden voyage through the Arctic route to Europe, also marking the first of its kind by a South Korean ship.

Arctic shipping routes are emerging as maritime passages through the Arctic Ocean, potentially facilitating shorter and more efficient trade between Asia and Europe.

The routes are gaining attention amid escalating climate change and the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has disrupted traditional global shipping routes.

Lee called for additional pilot voyages along the Arctic route to ensure its stability and economic feasibility, while reaffirming his administration's plan to develop Busan into a maritime hub with heavy investments in related infrastructure.

Unification minister says S. Korea-U.S. alliance intact despite conflicting interests

U.S. expects S. Korea to 'uphold' alliance standards amid intelligence cooperation concerns: senior official

(LEAD) Spy agency snub raises U.S. alliance concerns in S. Korea

(2nd LD) S. Korean envoy says progress made in intelligence cooperation with U.S. amid friction concerns

(3rd LD) Lee stresses importance of U.S. alliance, says submissive stance should be shunned

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首尔，10月13日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周二强调了韩国与美国结盟的重要性，但也指出在外交活动中应避免采取顺从的立场。

总统在内阁会议上发表了上述言论。此前，外界对首尔与华盛顿联盟内部明显存在的摩擦表示担忧，尤其是韩国在情报共享方面面临美国的限制。

李表示，外交应该以维护国家利益为重点，同时强调国家之间可能会出现分歧。

总统指出：“外交应该始终以维护韩国尊严和保障其国家利益为出发点，任何卑躬屈膝或谄媚的姿态都应该避免。”

李强调：“韩国外交的指导原则是务实主义。对韩国而言，最重要的是国家利益。”

2026年10月13日，李在明总统在首尔出席内阁会议。（韩联社）

据报道，韩国统一部长官此前曾公开表示朝鲜龟城是铀浓缩设施所在地，此举导致韩国持续面临来自华盛顿的情报共享限制。华盛顿方面据信抗议韩国的言论，认为这是单方面泄露美国共享的情报。

一些保守的地方新闻媒体指责统一部长危害了韩美同盟。

总统还表示，韩美同盟“非常重要”，是韩国外交的主要轴线，需要进一步推进，同时也承认两国之间总是可能出现分歧。

总统还指出，“（分歧）应该不断地进行辩论、提出和协调”，并强调要将此类分歧最小化到“可控的水平”。

2026年10月13日，韩国总统李在明（中）在首尔出席内阁会议。（韩联社）

李在谈及首尔最近与华盛顿就美国投资项目达成的协议时表示，与其他国家相比，韩国经过“最漫长”的谈判，取得了最符合其国家利益的成果。

总统指出：“今后，（政府）将竭尽全力维护国家利益。如果出现分歧或误解，政府将努力解决或协调。”

前一天，韩国驻美国大使康京和表示，首尔和华盛顿在改善情报合作方面取得了进展，但她也承认与白宫的高层沟通仍然存在局限性。

康在华盛顿韩国大使馆接受国会审计时表示：“我承认我们与白宫的沟通存在局限性。”

李显龙还指示官员加快推进旨在缓解经济两极分化和不平等的政策，并将住房供应、创造就业机会和“普惠金融”列为三项关键的社会政策优先事项。

总统表示：“现在是时候集中精力缩小两极分化的鸿沟，降低不平等的壁垒，以促进更大的增长和可持续发展。”

谈到其他问题时，总统赞扬了一艘韩国集装箱船在首次穿越北极航线前往欧洲后安全返回该国东南部港口城市釜山，这也标志着韩国船舶首次完成此类航行。

北极航运路线正在成为穿越北冰洋的海上通道，有可能促进亚洲和欧洲之间更短、更高效的贸易。

随着气候变化加剧和中东冲突持续不断，传统的全球航运路线受到扰乱，这些航线正日益受到关注。

李呼吁沿北极航线进行更多试航，以确保其稳定性和经济可行性，同时重申其政府计划将釜山发展成为海上枢纽，并对相关基础设施进行大量投资。

统一部长官表示，尽管利益冲突，韩美同盟依然稳固。

美国高级官员表示，尽管存在情报合作方面的担忧，但美国仍希望韩国“维护”同盟标准。

（导语）韩国间谍机构遭冷落引发美国对韩美同盟关系的担忧

（第二条）韩国特使表示，尽管存在摩擦担忧，但与美国的情报合作仍取得进展。

（第三篇演讲）李显龙强调美英同盟的重要性，称应摒弃顺从姿态