Lee, Trump discussed shipbuilding in brief New York meeting: White House

Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump held a brief meeting in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, where they discussed shipbuilding cooperation and other topics. Seoul said the talks also covered North Korea dialogue, nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing rights, and wartime operational control transfer. Trump reaffirmed his commitment to resuming dialogue with North Korea.

The White House official said the meeting took place during the Leaders Reception at the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting lasted about 30 minutes, according to a presidential official in Seoul.

South Korea has pledged US$350 billion in investment in the United States under last year’s bilateral trade deal, with $150 billion set aside for the shipbuilding sector.

Seoul said the leaders discussed South Korea’s push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful civil purposes.

The leaders also discussed joint efforts for the transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul from Washington.

Published Sep 24, 2026 3:26 am KST

Updated Sep 24, 2026 4:19 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung, left, talking with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Tuesday. Yonhap

WASHINGTON — A White House official said Wednesday South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed shipbuilding cooperation and other topics during a meeting on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly this week.

The official made the remarks in response to Yonhap News Agency's question about the meeting on Tuesday, where Seoul officials said that the leaders discussed key issues, including Seoul's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful civil purposes.

"President Trump and President Lee had a brief meeting on the sidelines of the Leaders Reception at the United Nations General Assembly, where they discussed shipbuilding cooperation among other topics," the official said in an email.

After the 30-minute meeting, a presidential official told reporters that Trump expressed interest in shipbuilding cooperation, as the Trump administration seeks cooperation with South Korea to rebuild the United States Navy and shipbuilding industry.

Under last year's bilateral trade deal, South Korea pledged to invest US$350 billion in the U.S. Of the total, $150 billion has been set aside for the shipbuilding sector.

During the meeting, Trump also reaffirmed his commitment to resuming dialogue with North Korea, according to Seoul's presidential office.

In addition, the leaders discussed joint efforts for the transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul from Washington, the office said.

李在明和唐纳德·特朗普在纽约联合国大会期间举行了短暂会晤，双方讨论了造船合作及其他议题。首尔方面表示，会谈还涉及朝韩对话、核动力潜艇、铀浓缩和乏燃料后处理权以及战时作战指挥权移交等问题。特朗普重申了他致力于恢复与朝鲜对话的承诺。

白宫官员表示，此次会晤是在联合国大会领导人招待会期间举行的。

据首尔一位总统府官员称，会面持续了约30分钟。

根据去年的双边贸易协议，韩国承诺向美国投资3500亿美元，其中1500亿美元将用于造船业。

首尔方面表示，两国领导人讨论了韩国为获取核动力潜艇、确保为和平民用目的进行铀浓缩和乏核燃料后处理而进行的努力。

两国领导人还讨论了将战时作战指挥权从华盛顿移交给首尔的共同努力。

发布于2026年9月24日凌晨3:26（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月24日凌晨4:19（韩国标准时间）

周二，韩国总统李在明（左）在纽约联合国大会期间与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普会晤。（韩联社）

华盛顿——一位白宫官员周三表示，韩国总统李在明和美国总统唐纳德·特朗普本周在联合国大会期间举行会晤，讨论了造船合作和其他议题。

这位官员是在回应韩联社关于周二会晤的提问时发表上述言论的。首尔官员表示，两国领导人在会晤中讨论了关键问题，包括首尔推动获得核动力潜艇以及确保为和平民用目的进行铀浓缩和乏核燃料后处理的权利。

这位官员在一封电子邮件中表示：“特朗普总统和李总统在联合国大会领导人招待会期间进行了短暂会晤，他们讨论了包括造船合作在内的多个议题。”

在30分钟的会晤结束后，一位总统官员告诉记者，特朗普对造船合作表示了兴趣，因为特朗普政府正在寻求与韩国合作，以重建美国海军和造船业。

根据去年的双边贸易协议，韩国承诺向美国投资3500亿美元，其中1500亿美元已拨给造船业。

据首尔总统府消息，特朗普在会晤中还重申了他恢复与朝鲜对话的承诺。

此外，该办公室表示，两国领导人还讨论了将战时作战指挥权从华盛顿移交给首尔的共同努力。