"Trump Requested Construction of 10 Warships"... President Lee Addresses 'Party-Government Conflict'

Jun 19, 2026

"Trump Requested Construction of 10 Warships"... President Lee Addresses 'Party-Government Conflict'
[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung, who returned to the country yesterday (June 18) after a tour of Europe, held a press conference to explain the outcomes of his trip and discuss domestic issues. President Lee revealed that he was asked by President Trump to build 10 warships and described the rumored conflict with the ruling party leadership, including Chairman Jung Chung-rae, as a process toward improvement.

Reporter Kang Cheong-wan has the story.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung held a press conference at the Blue House to explain the achievements of his ten-day tour of Europe and the G7 Summit.

President Lee stated that he discussed the North Korean issue with U.S. President Trump at the G7 Summit and proposed a phased approach to denuclearization.

[President Lee Jae-myung: I made it clear that the North Korean nuclear issue should not be approached in the same way we deal with other countries.]

He also disclosed that President Trump asked whether South Korea could construct 10 warships.

Domestic political issues were also addressed.

Regarding the rumors of conflict sparked by Democratic Party Chairman Jung Chung-rae's absence from the send-off ceremony for his European tour, President Lee said the following:

[President Lee Jae-myung: While it may look like there is a massive conflict to you all, I believe it is a process to make things better.]

However, President Lee mentioned that he has a sense of duty to ensure a good relationship between the party and the government, adding that the ruling party needs to be "inclusive and open" in its role.

He also made pointed remarks regarding the internal conflict within the ruling bloc and the overheating competition for party leadership.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Do not fight like enemies. Should people within the same camp be waging war against each other instead of competing?]

Regarding Chairman Jung Chung-rae's push for the complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, President Lee ordered sufficient discussion in the National Assembly, stating, "One should not avoid making soy sauce just because they are afraid of maggots."

(Reported by Jung Sang-bo and Yoon Hyung | Video by Park Sun-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.