But Lee - a seasoned politican - 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.

Trump and Lee on Monday expressed optimism for close cooperation on North Korea, collective security and shipbuilding, yet the deal setting a 15% tariff on South Korean goods will remain unchanged, according to the US president.

President Lee Jae Myung's visit is expected to spotlight trade, alliance costs and North Korea as he seeks to set the tone with Trump's second-term White House.