South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday, 28 April called for resolving outstanding disputes with close allies through mutual respect, common sense, and principles, signalling a firm but conciliatory posture as Seoul navigates diplomatic friction with Washington. The remarks came during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's presidential office.

Key Remarks at the Cabinet Meeting

"(We) need the wisdom to build healthy, future-oriented relations with traditional allies, while resolving pending issues based on mutual respect, common sense and principles," Lee told the Cabinet. He added that he would "devote myself to diplomacy aimed at building genuine friendship with allies, with confidence as a sovereign nation." Lee stressed that "cooperation with traditional allies should also be developed," framing the approach as a long-term strategic investment rather than a reactive posture.

The Diplomatic Friction with Washington

While President Lee did not name specific disputes, the remarks came against the backdrop of reported tensions with the United States. According to Yonhap news agency, Washington has reportedly raised complaints over Seoul's handling of a significant information breach at Coupang, a US-listed e-commerce firm. Separately, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's public identification of Kusong as a North Korean uranium enrichment site has reportedly triggered a partial suspension of US intelligence sharing on North Korea's nuclear facilities with Seoul, as Washington believes the disclosure was based on US-shared intelligence. Minister Chung has repeatedly clarified that his remarks on Kusong were drawn from publicly available sources and not from any intelligence provided by the US.

Defence Sovereignty and Wartime Control

President Lee also underscored South Korea's growing self-reliant defence capability, pledging to further increase defence spending. "South Korea's own defence capability, excluding US Forces Korea, is the world's fifth-largest, while its annual defence spending is 1.4 times North Korea's annual gross national product," he said, adding that the country's defence exports rank fourth globally. The Lee administration is seeking to regain wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington before its five-year term ends in 2030. Command authority was transferred to the US during the 1950-53 Korean War, with only peacetime control returned to Seoul in 1994. "Even now, we have enough capability (to defend ourselves on our own), and, going forward, we will further increase defence expenditure," Lee said.

Economic Signals Amid External Risks

On the economic front, Lee highlighted that South Korea's real gross domestic product grew 1.7 per cent in the first quarter from the previous three months — nearly double earlier estimates — describing it as an "acceleration" of the recovery trend that began in the second half of last year. However, he cautioned that external uncertainties persist, citing the prolonged Middle East war and elevated oil prices as risks to the real economy. He instructed officials to make all-out efforts to sustain economic momentum.

What's Next

With the Lee administration pressing for wartime operational control by 2030 and diplomatic tensions with Washington still unresolved, Seoul's ability to balance alliance obligations with sovereign assertiveness will be closely watched. The Kusong intelligence dispute, in particular, could test the depth of the US-South Korea security partnership in the months ahead.