President Lee Jae Myung says South Korea will increase its defense spending and take a more active role in maintaining security on the Korean Peninsula.

The president made the remarks on Monday in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, after his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

Lee said the increased defense budget will be used to acquire cutting-edge technologies and assets to strengthen the capabilities of the South Korean military.

The president said the U.S. defense commitment to South Korea and the combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture will be steadfastly maintained. 

Lee also said he and President Trump agreed to cooperate closely for the peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

President Lee added that South Korea and the U.S. will respond strongly to North Korean provocations while continuing efforts to open up dialogue with Pyongyang.