Lee resumes summit diplomacy at G7 in Canada; meeting with Trump falls through

Also in Canada is President Lee Jae Myung.

He spent the first full day mingling with the leaders of South Africa and Australia.

Here's our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min, traveling with the president.

On his way to Canada to attend the G7 Summit, South Korea's new President Lee Jae Myung was asked about the timing of the G7 summit during a impromptu press conference on-board Korea's Air Force One.

"It's true that it is not easy to attend an international meeting only a few days after taking office. There were opinions that we needed to show the international community that the Republic of Korea had quickly returned to normal."

By that, he meant filling the leadership vacuum following the martial law incident.

The President started off his resumption of summit diplomacy by holding bilateral meetings with invited non-G7 countries South Africa and Australia on his first day in Canada.

President Lee met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese separately, and in those meetings, he addressed cooperation on the economy and energy, building upon friendships dating back to the Korean War over seven decades ago.

Also addressed was regional security surrounding the Korean peninsula.

Lee also invited Albanese to the APEC summit in Korea, while Ramaphosa invited Lee to the G20 summit in South Africa later this year.

In the evening, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung were hosted by Canada for dinner.

Also in the South Korean President's mind for this trip was trade with the U.S., but his expected meeting with President Trump fell through as the American leader cut short his trip to the G7, citing the crisis in the Middle East.

"The U.S. side contacted us, asking for our understanding for what has happened."

President Lee's summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is slated for Tuesday, local time.

Earlier on-board the Air Force One, President Lee did note that he seeks to yield results that are "mutually beneficial" when it comes to trade talks with the U.S.

The Trump administration's deadline for tariff negotiations is set for early July.

Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News, Calgary.