00:00South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung is calling for stronger independent defense capabilities
00:05while stressing that the U.S. alliance remains central to the country's security.
00:09His remarks come as Washington moves to scale back its joint military exercises with Seoul.
00:15And Lee says the exercises are defensive, not aimed at attacking or provoking North Korea.
00:22The presidential Blue House said the civil defense exercises were defensive measures
00:26to protect citizens and maintain public safety.
00:29Lee's remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon
00:33to substantially reduce the scale of joint military exercises with South Korea.
00:39Against that backdrop, Lee called for stronger independent defense capabilities
00:43while maintaining the alliance with Washington as a key part of South Korea's national security.
00:49He said greater domestic military strength would not only improve the country's defense
00:53but also increase South Korea's value and importance as a U.S. ally.
00:57Lee also called for faster progress on South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program
01:03and better training for officers preparing for future warfare.
01:10Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un
01:14has responded to his outreach after Washington moved to reduce military exercises with South Korea.
01:20Why hasn't Kim Jong-un responded to your request to have a conversation?
01:25How do you know he hasn't responded?
01:26Has he?
01:29Yeah, he has.
01:30Did you speak to him?
01:31Did you speak to him before we make an out to the accident?
01:34Where are you in conversation?
01:34I'm very positive.
01:35Well, just...
01:36Trump has described North Korea as untreatening and respectful
01:39while signalling renewed interest in direct diplomacy with the North Korean leader.
01:44The two leaders held summits in 2018 and 2019
01:47but negotiations later collapsed over disagreements surrounding North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
01:53Last year, Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, said her brother's personal relationship with Trump
01:58remained relatively positive but warned that personal ties would not change Pyongyang's nuclear position.
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