TODAY: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Meets with Trump for the First Time
August 26, 2025
Posted in: Newsletters
Dear Friend,
Today, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump hold their first summit in Washington DC.
Join us for a webinar debriefing the Lee-Trump summit on Sept. 2, 2025 at 8:00pm EST (Sept. 3, 2025 at 9:00am KST). Register here. We’ll hear from speakers Youngmi Cho (PEACEMOMO), Paul Liem (Korea Policy Institute), and Dae-Han Song (International Strategy Center), moderated by Cathi Choi (Women Cross DMZ).
In his August 15 Liberation Day address, President Lee Jae-myung vowed to ease tensions and restore diplomacy with North Korea. However, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, rebuffed Lee’s statements stating that South Korea “cannot be a diplomatic partner” of North Korea.
Lee’s administration has also proposed transferring wartime operational control of its troops from the U.S. to South Korea by 2030. But in July, the U.S. Senate passed a bill barring spending on the transfer of wartime operational control and the reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea below 28,500. As Congress returns from August recess, the House will consider these issues in voting on the National Defense Authorization Act.
These coming weeks represent a critical time. Join our webinar to learn more!
🗣️ Community Report-Back
Grassroots Advocacy
Earlier this month, we gained three first-time co-sponsors on Korea Peace legislation: Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-21); Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI-2); and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9). We celebrate the constituents who have persistently advocated to these representatives over the years. Take action for Korea peace today!
How Global U.S. Militarism Impacts Americans: Korea, War, and U.S. Domestic Policies, Chicago
In August, Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network Midwest members organized “How Global U.S. Militarism Impacts Americans: Korea, War, and U.S. Domestic Policies,” a panel discussion on the current state of the global war economy and Korea’s role in U.S. militarism. Echo presented lessons from our 10-Year Anniversary Korea Solidarity Trek, and WCDMZ Board Chair Ji-Yeon Yuh discussed ballooning war spending globally and consequences for the economy, social services, immigrants, health care, and education. Thank you to the HANA Center for providing their venue, and to KPNGN members KC Yoon, Echo, Ji-Yeon Yuh, Jeeyeon Lee, Inhe Choi, Alison Choi, and Nahmi Jones for putting this event together!
People’s Summit for Korea, New York City
In July, we convened with over 50 organizations, hundreds of community members, grassroots organizers, students, artists, scholars, and allies! Thank you to everyone who attended the “Policy and People Power: The Role of Advocacy in the Korean Liberation Movement” workshop. WCDMZ Executive Director Cathi Choi and KPNGN Advocacy Committee Leader Hayden Smith spoke alongside Iman Abid from US Campaign for Palestinian Rights and Arash Azizzada from Afghans for a Better Tomorrow in a conversation moderated by Yunmi C. from Nodutdol.
WCDMZ’s 10-Year Anniversary Korea Solidarity Trek Report Back, New York City
In July, we co-hosted a report back of WCDMZ’s 10-Year Anniversary Korea Solidarity Trek with Arash Azizzada from Afghans for a Better Tomorrow. Thank you to Jungwon Kim, Asen James, and Deep Dive BK for hosting us! We shared about our visits to the DMZ, Civilian Control Zone, Yongjugol, Pyeongtaek, Dongducheon, Gangjeong, and 4.3 Peace Park in Jeju Island. Read more about our trek here.
🗓️ Upcoming Event
September 15-19, 2025 | Commemorating 80 Years of Liberation and 60 Years of Korea–Japan Relations “East Asia–North America Peace Workshop & Campaign: Ending the Korean War and Colonial Legacy”
Women Cross DMZ and Korea Peace Now! are sponsoring “East Asia–North America Peace Workshop & Campaign: Ending the Korean War and Colonial Legacy,” a collaborative multi-workshop campaign taking place from September 15-19 in Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. Objectives of the campaign include strengthening the role of civil society and academia in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia and building networks of cooperation between U.S. and East Asian organizations. Some of the workshops and events will be open to the public. Learn more about the campaign and partners here.
✌️Follow Women Cross DMZ and Korea Peace Now! on Bluseky! Say hello and check out our accounts!
🛍 Support the Korea Peace Movement: Show your support for Korea peace with one of our tote bags, hats, baby onesies, and clothing, available here. All funds will support Korea Peace Now!, our U.S.-based movement for peace in Korea led by Women Cross DMZ. Art by Peter Holland and lazy blender.
Sincerely,
Women Cross DMZ