U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to the White House on Monday for their first summit, only hours after casting doubt on the country’s political stability. The Oval Office meeting follows a July agreement that cut U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods to 15 percent from a threatened 25 percent and envisages about US$350 billion in South Korean investment in the United States. Trade and defense dominated the agenda. Trump told reporters that South Korea is a “large buyer of U.S. military equipment,” while Lee said he hopes to collaborate with Washington in shipbuilding, manufacturing, technology and wider “alliance modernization.” The talks took place against the backdrop of Trump’s morning post describing what he called a “purge or revolution” in Seoul and warning that such turmoil could affect business—a claim Lee’s delegation did not directly address but sought to downplay by stressing economic cooperation. Looking beyond the bilateral dossier, both leaders signaled interest in renewed diplomacy with North Korea. Lee urged the U.S. president to act as a “peacemaker,” and Trump said Kim Jong Un “wants to meet” and that he would like to hold such a meeting later this year. Trump also indicated he is considering visits to South Korea and China, adding that President Xi Jinping had invited him. While no concrete timetable was announced, the remarks underscored Washington’s intention to entwine Indo-Pacific security and trade issues as it recalibrates ties with key Asian partners.