South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

(Reuters) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday that he and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed modernizing the two countries' alliance during their summit talks.

Lee also said South Korea would expand its defense budget to transform the country's military into a smart military that will prevail in future warfare.

His comments at a forum at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) came after Lee and Trump held their first summit meeting.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Ju-min Park; Editing by Leslie Adler)