0
President Lee Jae-myung walks to his seat during a luncheon meeting with ruling and opposition party leaders at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on June 22. From left: PPP interim leader Kim Yong-tae, Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki, PPP floor leader Song Eon-seok, and President Lee. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung has decided not to attend the NATO summit scheduled for June 24–25 in the Netherlands, citing pressing domestic matters and growing instability in the Middle East, the presidential office announced on June 22.

Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson for the presidential office, stated in a written briefing, “Despite the many domestic challenges following the president’s inauguration, the administration had been actively considering his attendance at the NATO summit. However, due to a combination of internal affairs and heightened uncertainty in the Middle East, the president has decided not to attend in person.” She added that the government is in discussions with NATO about sending other officials instead.

President Lee had been weighing the NATO summit more heavily following the cancellation of a Korea-U.S. summit at the recent G7 meeting, where U.S. President Donald Trump departed early.

However, the strategic landscape changed suddenly when Trump confirmed on June 22 that the U.S. had launched airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites. With the U.S. now entangled in the Israel-Iran conflict and regional volatility deepening, President Lee ultimately opted out of the NATO gathering, especially as Trump’s own attendance has become uncertain.

That said, attention is now shifting to a possible summit between Lee and Trump in the U.S. before July 8, when the U.S. exemption on reciprocal tariffs with Korea is set to expire. Coordination for that visit is reportedly underway.

A senior presidential official confirmed, “Plans for a Korea-U.S. summit are actively being pursued.”