But Lee, a seasoned politician, successfully turned on the charm and averted what officials were fearing - a repeat of what happened to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky or South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa. Lee marveled at the new Oval Office decor and praised the personal rapport that the US president has with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had a friendly interaction before the cameras at the White House that was far different than Trump's warnings against the new leader ear

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed optimism for close cooperation on North Korea, collective security and shipbuilding, though the US leader downplayed the chances for further concessions on Seoul’s tariff deal.