PRES. LEE TO MEET WITH TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE IN AUGUST

Welcome to Press Perspective.

It's Thursday August 7th here in Seoul.

I'm Min Sunhee.

President Lee Jae Myung and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump are expected to meet at the White House within this month.

That being said today we touch upon the potential issues on their agenda.

For this I have Andrew Salmon with The Washington Times.

Andrew it's great to have you here.

I also have Ruy Valdes with EFE Spain.

Ruy welcome back.

Andrew, let's begin with the view that South Korea and the U.S. are preparing for their summit with "details of their tariff deal unresolved."

To what extent, do you agree, and to what extent, do you not?

Ruy, before we delve any deeper into the planned meeting at the White House, what can you tell us about the political significance of this upcoming summit for President Lee Jae Myung?

And Andrew, what about for Mr. Trump?

How important is this upcoming interaction for the U.S. leader keeping in mind his hopes of containing China and of coming across as a peacemaker, if you will, with regard to tensions on the peninsula?

Ruy, some believe the summit between these two leaders may turn into a showdown over defense-cost sharing.

How likely is this scenario?

Andrew, you recently wrote a piece for The Washington Times about President Lee and his handling of affairs.

How is he likely to handle a potential showdown over contentious bilateral matters?

Ruy, do you believe the two leaders see eye-to-eye with regard to North Korea-related concerns?

Andrew, President Lee is scheduled to play host to his APEC counterparts for the bloc's annual economic meeting later this autumn.

What are the broader diplomatic implications of a successful hosting of this multilateral meeting for South Korea?

And Ruy, what is the latest with regard to the current ongoing APEC gatherings here in the country ahead of the leaders' meeting starting October first?

All right.