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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung explains the meaning of a specially prepared gift to Pope Leo XIV during their audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on June 15 (local time). President Lee presented the Pope with a statue titled "God's Embrace," symbolizing human compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the restoration of community. He also gifted a multipurpose white porcelain vessel, whose clean contours and minimalist aesthetic evoke the priestly virtues of poverty, purity, and spiritual reflection. / Photo courtesy of Vatican Media

The Blue House stated on June 15 (local time) that while the possibility remains open for a bilateral summit between President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit, it is difficult to report any concrete progress at this stage.

"We are not yet at that stage with President Trump," a senior Blue House official remarked during a briefing at the press center in Rome, Italy, on the afternoon of June 15.

"Our position regarding a bilateral meeting with President Trump remains open—we will hold it if our schedules align and if it is feasible," the official noted. "However, it is not the primary focus of our current diplomatic efforts during this trip."

The official added, "We are currently arranging bilateral summits with several other nations, and those plans are taking more concrete shape."

Elaborating on the situation, the official explained, "The current focal points of the two countries differ, schedules remain fluid, and numerous factors are subject to change depending on evolving developments in the Middle East. Therefore, we are not definitively predicting whether a South Korea-U.S. summit will or will not take place during this trip, but are simply keeping the door open naturally."

President Lee, who is currently concluding his visit to the Vatican, is scheduled to travel on June 16 to Evian, France, the host venue for the G7 summit. President Trump is also widely reported to attend the gathering.

                                                                                                             Hong Sun-mi