Lee Calls for Stronger US Alliance Without ‘Submissive’ Diplomacy

President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea should continue strengthening its alliance with the United States while rejecting a submissive approach to diplomacy, framing national interest and dignity as the guiding principles of Seoul’s foreign policy.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting in Seoul on Tuesday, Lee described the alliance as very important and as the main axis of South Korean diplomacy. At the same time, he said relations between countries inevitably involve differences that should be debated, raised and coordinated rather than avoided. The goal, he added, should be to keep disagreements at a manageable level.

Lee emphasized what he called pragmatic diplomacy. He said South Korea’s dealings with other countries must consistently safeguard its national interests and preserve its dignity, and that the government would work to resolve misunderstandings or coordinate differences when they emerge.

The comments came amid scrutiny of intelligence cooperation between Seoul and Washington. South Korea has faced restrictions on some intelligence sharing by the United States following controversy over Unification Minister Chung Dong-young’s earlier public identification of Kusong in North Korea as the location of a uranium enrichment facility. Washington was reported to view the disclosure as involving intelligence that had been shared by the United States.

The issue has prompted criticism from some conservative South Korean media, which have accused Chung of damaging the alliance. Lee’s remarks sought to balance reassurance about the alliance’s importance with a broader assertion that cooperation should not require South Korea to take a deferential position.

South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha said a day earlier that there had been progress in improving intelligence cooperation between the two countries. During a parliamentary audit at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, however, she also acknowledged limits in high-level communication with the White House.

Lee also pointed to Seoul’s recent agreement with Washington concerning US investment projects. He said South Korea had secured outcomes that best served its interests compared with other countries after an extended negotiation. He pledged that the government would maintain that focus as it manages future disputes and coordination with Washington.

The president’s message underscored a dual approach: maintaining the alliance as a cornerstone of foreign policy while seeking greater room for an independent, interest-based diplomatic posture. How Seoul and Washington address the intelligence-sharing dispute will provide an early test of that approach.