Lee, who was sworn into office earlier this month after winning the June 3 snap presidential election, is visiting Canada on his first trip abroad for the G7 summit.

It became “difficult” to hold a meeting between Lee and US President Donald Trump as planned after Trump was leaving the summit early, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told a briefing.

“Washington had asked for Seoul’s understanding,” Wi said.

“Lee held talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday,” his office said.

Seoul and Washington are holding working-level tariff talks, as the two sides try to agree on a deal seen as crucial for South Korea’s export-oriented economy.

South Korea’s key sectors, ranging from chips to vehicles and shipbuilding, are heavily exposed to global trade.

Lee, a left-leaning leader, has said pragmatism was key to his diplomacy and he would continue with security cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the US.