Seoul: South Korea and the United States have begun talks to set a date for a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, Seoul's top diplomat said Thursday, a day after Trump announced that Lee would visit the White House in two weeks.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun shared insights during a meeting with South Korean correspondents in Washington. This came after his first official talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio since the Lee administration took office in June. Cho described the meeting as "very constructive," highlighting efforts underway to coordinate and set a specific date for the summit.

Cho emphasized the importance of shaping the summit's content at a working level, suggesting joint preparations for the summit agenda. A senior Seoul official noted that while discussions are ongoing, it would take a "little more time" to finalize a date, casting doubt on whether the summit will indeed occur in two weeks as previously mentioned by Trump.

The official also mentioned a mutual understanding between Seoul and Washington regarding the necessity to evolve the bilateral alliance into a "comprehensive" and "future-oriented" partnership. The Trump administration's push to "modernize" the alliance aligns with policy priorities, including efforts to counter China's growing influence.

Should the summit proceed, Lee and Trump are expected to address a range of alliance issues. These include defense strategies against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and joint initiatives to bolster economic security for both nations.