US congratulates Lee on election win

President Lee Jae-myung announces new administration during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan Seoul on June 4 2025 Yonhap — President Lee Jae-myung announces the appointment of key officials at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul on June 4, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, June 4 (AJP) - The U.S. congratulated South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the country's 21st president and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to its bilateral alliance with Seoul.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "We congratulate [Lee] on his election" as South Korea's next president, adding that the two countries "share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties."

"We will also continue to deepen..... trilateral cooperation [between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington] to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles," the statement said.

Lee is soon expected to talk with U.S. President Donald Trump over the phone on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the two could meet in person if Lee decides to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Canada slated for later this month, though it remains uncertain with the multilateral gathering less than two weeks away.

Kim Hee-su khs@ajunews.com