ANKARA – US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung agreed to deepen their partnership on military shipbuilding and continue working-level talks on the issue.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 where Trump revisited his request for South Korea to cooperate in the construction of military vessels, chief presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said.  

Lee pledged his full cooperation and introduced Korean companies with advanced shipbuilding capabilities, Kang added.

The meeting in Turkey was their first face-to-face encounter since the G-7 summit in June where Trump made his initial request.

The meeting in Turkey underscored efforts by both governments to build momentum in ties after Lee took office in June in 2025.

The two sides agreed to continue working-level consultations to examine specific measures for cooperation in the sector, Kang said, without providing further details on potential projects or timelines.

The discussion reflects growing US interest in leveraging South Korea’s globally competitive shipbuilding industry as Washington seeks to expand naval capacity and strengthen defense industrial cooperation with allies.

South Korean shipbuilders, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co and Hanwha Ocean Co, have increasingly positioned themselves as partners for US naval mod...