Lee-Trump Hold 30-Minute Summit, Agree to Speed Up Talks on Wartime OPCON Transfer, Nuclear Submarines and North Korea-U.S. Dialogue

 【Financial News, New York (U.S.) = Reporter Choi Jong-geun】President Lee Jae Myung, who is visiting New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sept. 22 (local time). They discussed major issues between South Korea and the United States, including the transfer of wartime operational control, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding cooperation. This was the first time the transfer of wartime operational control had been discussed at the leaders' level. President Trump reaffirmed his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea, and the two leaders agreed to continue follow-up consultations in Washington soon to advance discussions on key issues, including wartime operational control and nuclear-powered submarines.
Wi Sung-lac, director of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, said at a briefing at the New York press center that "the South Korean and U.S. presidents held talks for about 30 minutes from 7:20 p.m." He added, "At the summit, the two leaders welcomed the significant progress made in discussions on strategic investment projects between the two countries." In connection with this, the South Korean government finalized the construction of the Encinal gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Texas as its first investment project in the United States and reported the decision to the National Assembly. 
This was the third meeting between President Lee and President Trump since Lee took office, following their meeting in Washington, D.C., last August and their meeting in Gyeongju in October, when the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held.
Wi said, "Based on the joint explanatory document issued after the South Korea-U.S. summit last November, the two leaders confirmed their shared determination to further deepen cooperation in areas including fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, enrichment and reprocessing, shipbuilding cooperation and the transfer of wartime operational control. They also agreed to continue follow-up consultations." With the summit taking place, attention is focused on whether long-stalled discussions on security issues between South Korea and the United States will gain momentum.
The two leaders devoted considerable time to the transfer of wartime operational control. A senior Cheong Wa Dae official explained, "We provided extensive explanations, and President Trump also came to understand this issue much better. Our main point was that we would like to complete the process as quickly as possible while meeting the required conditions."
Discussions on the nuclear agreement and nuclear-powered submarines are also expected to pick up speed again. The senior official said, "There had been little progress because of various external factors, but since there has been progress on the investment issue, we emphasized the need to revive these discussions and move them forward again." He added, "To advance issues including shipbuilding cooperation, the nuclear agreement, nuclear-powered submarines and the transfer of wartime operational control, we agreed to hold follow-up consultations in Washington as soon as possible."
The summit also reaffirmed President Trump's willingness to engage in dialogue on North Korea. Wi said, "The two leaders agreed to communicate closely as peacemakers and pace-setters, opening the door to dialogue and helping establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."
President Lee expressed hope that President Trump would help resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula through North Korea-U.S. dialogue. President Trump reportedly responded in substance, "I will do so." Trump was also said to have remarked that he was getting along well with Kim Jong Un and had a good relationship with the North Korean leader.
The deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, which the United States has repeatedly requested, was not discussed at the summit. A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, "There was no discussion concerning the Strait of Hormuz," adding that neither side made any special remarks on the matter.
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