US-South Korea talks scrapped after Trump's early G7 exit

A planned meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump was canceled on Monday after Trump unexpectedly left the Group of Seven summit a day early to deal with the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's national security adviser to the president, told reporters in Calgary that the meeting between the two leaders was called off after the US informed Seoul of Trump’s sudden departure.

“President Trump had to return home unexpectedly,” Wi said. "Washington had sought our understanding regarding the last-minute schedule change."

The bilateral summit would have marked their first face-to-face meeting since President Lee’s inauguration earlier this month. It was scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the G7 gathering in Calgary from June 15 to 17.

The summit was expected to cover a range of bilateral and regional issues, including trade and defense spending, as export-reliant South Korea faces steep tariff increases imposed by the Trump administration.

South Korea, although not a G7 member, was invited by host nation Canada to the expanded sessions – giving President Lee his diplomatic debut on the global stage.

A senior official at the Korean presidential office added that Seoul is working to reschedule the summit at the earliest opportunity.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed via social media that the US president would return to Washington a day ahead of schedule "due to critical developments” in the Middle East.

Upon arrival, Trump is expected to convene a National Security Council meeting.

Earlier this month Lee had a phone call with Trump, who congratulated Lee on his inauguration as South Korea's leader.

During the phone conversation, they agreed to pursue a swift resolution to the tariff dispute, though more contentious matters – including strategic export controls and defense burden-sharing – were reportedly left off the agenda.

Trump has repeatedly demanded that Seoul pay a greater share of the cost of maintaining the US troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

Amid renewed tensions between the US and China, South Korea is also seeking to balance its security alliance with Washington and its economic ties with Beijing.

Meanwhile, Lee will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the afternoon on Tuesday as scheduled. It will mark their first bilateral meeting since each took office.

Write to Yeonhee Kim at yhkim@hankyung.com

Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.