Overview

• Trump and President Lee meet in Washington on Monday with talks centered on burden-sharing and the role of U.S. forces in Korea.
• Hours before the meeting, Trump alleged a “political cleansing” in South Korea on Truth Social and said he would raise the issue with Lee, according to AFP.
• Reporting cited by FOCUS online from the New York Times says Washington is considering reducing its military presence in Korea due to constraints tied to a potential China–Taiwan conflict.
• The White House is pressing Seoul for a significantly higher annual contribution to support U.S. troops and for greater investment in the United States.
• U.S. positions have triggered debate in South Korea over pursuing an independent nuclear deterrent, even as both leaders signal interest in dialogue with Kim Jong-un.