Trump's Remarks Sour South Korea Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized South Korea hours before a summit with South Korea's new President, Lee Jae Myung. Trump's unverified social media remarks strained relations amid defense spending and trade tensions, threatening decades-old alliances and overshadowing Lee's goal to maintain balanced ties between the U.S. and China.

On the eve of a pivotal summit, U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to launch a broadside against South Korea, straining relations ahead of his meeting with newly-elected President Lee Jae Myung. The summit, aimed at addressing defense spending and trade disputes, was overshadowed by Trump's unsubstantiated claims of unrest in South Korea.

The meeting with Lee, who recently assumed office following Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, was set to tackle the challenging dynamics of maintaining U.S. security alliances while also fostering economic ties with China. However, Trump's remarks cast a pall over the high-level discussions.

The underlying issues remain unresolved, as Trump's comments failed to provide clarity on the specifics of his grievances. Meanwhile, South Korea's government is examining the accusations, while the White House has not commented on the controversy. The situation underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in U.S.-South Korean relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)