President Lee: “The ROK-U.S. Alliance is very important ... Differences between countries are inevitable”

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung emphasized on the 13th that “South Korea’s foreign policy is clearly a pragmatic diplomacy of national interest,” adding, “The most important thing is South Korea’s national interest.” 
At a Cabinet meeting he chaired at Cheong Wa Dae that day, President Lee said, “South Korea is an independent, sovereign state. We must always conduct diplomacy confidently, solely for South Korea and to protect its national interests.” He also made clear that the country must safeguard its autonomy and national interests in the diplomatic process, saying, “In relations between countries, we should reject a submissive attitude or one of deference to powerful countries.”
President Lee stressed the importance of the ROK-U.S. Alliance while underscoring the need to manage balanced relations with neighboring countries. “The ROK-U.S. Alliance is very important. It can be called an axis of diplomacy. We must continue to develop it,” he said. “At the same time, it remains important to manage relations with the major powers around us.”
On differences between countries, he stressed the need for diplomatic coordination and compromise. “Differences between countries are inevitable,” President Lee said. “We need to minimize them, and they must remain within a manageable range. But the mere existence of differences cannot itself be treated as a problem.”
He added, “How could the national interests pursued by each country always coincide? It is a matter of continually discussing the issues, putting forward positions and making adjustments in pursuit of agreement.”
President Lee also said, “If we are not careful, we could end up sacrificing our national interests amid competition between countries over their interests,” reiterating the importance of protecting the national interest during external negotiations.
President Lee also praised the hard work of diplomatic and trade officials in charge of external negotiations. He said, “Our Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as our public officials, including those at the Office of the Minister for Trade, have been working very hard in external negotiations,” and highly commended the South Korean government’s efforts to protect its national interests during negotiations with the United States.
He continued, “Everyone in the diplomatic team, including our Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, worked really hard. Everyone would acknowledge that, wouldn’t they? The United States said so, too. Our negotiating parties and negotiators are very tough. That is a complaint on the one hand, but also praise on the other,” he remarked.
President Lee said, “You worked really hard and did a good job,” emphasizing, “South Korea will continue to do its utmost for the greater benefit of its people and for the country’s national interests.”
He added, “If there are differences or misunderstandings about an issue, we will work through them and make adjustments so that South Korea can move forward as an irreplaceable nation standing tall on the world stage.”

[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter