Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung will not attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit scheduled for this week in the Netherlands, citing domestic priorities and growing uncertainty in the Middle East, the presidential office said Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee had considered participating in the summit, which is set to take place from Tuesday to Wednesday in The Hague, with hopes of meeting U.S. President Donald Trump. However, following the United States' recent strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, Lee ultimately decided not to attend the meeting.

"Despite the numerous pressing state affairs following the president's inauguration, the government had actively considered President Lee's attendance at the NATO summit," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. "However, after comprehensively reviewing various domestic matters and the volatile situation in the Middle East, the president decided not to attend the summit," Kang added.

The potential participation of other government officials will be discussed in consultation with NATO, she noted.