President Lee Jae-myung Chairs Security Meeting

President Lee Jae-myung said the need for strategic and flexible diplomacy during his first cabinet meeting following a six-day trip to India and Vietnam. Lee also stressed the necessity of self-reliant national defense to reduce dependence on foreign military presence. The remarks come amid observations of potential friction in South Korea-US relations regarding regional security strategies. President Lee met with opposition parties and independent lawmakers for lunch at the National Assembly today. Lee noted that while domestic issues can be overcome internally, the external environment remains difficult. He specifically highlighted challenges in foreign policy and security, including US-Korea relations and the US-Iran conflict. President Lee Jae-myung called for mutual responsibility and cooperation between labor and management during a Blue House senior secretary meeting ahead of Labor Day. He warned that excessive or unfair demands from unions that draw public criticism harm both the specific union and other workers. Lee noted that the transition to an AI-driven era requires a spirit of coexistence to overcome changes. He also said that employers must treat workers as valuable partners with a sense of solidarity. President Lee Jae-myung chaired a security ministers meeting on April 30th, his first in approximately two months. Unlike the regular National Security Council Standing Committee meetings, this session involved a smaller core group and focused on sensitive foreign policy and national security matters.