SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea's National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac has arrived in Washington, D.C. on Sunday (local time), returning just 11 days after his previous trip, to prevent a looming trade conflict with the United States and finalize plans for a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
South Korean officials predict that Wi will meet U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, who also serves as National Security Advisor. Wi's visit comes ahead of the August 1 deadline, when the U.S. is set to impose a 25 percent tariff on South Korean imports unless a new agreement is reached. Trump had released a letter addressed to Lee earlier this month, warning that South Korean goods would face steep tariffs unless trade terms were changed.
"South Korea is making a lot of money, and they're very good, they're very good, but, you know, they should be paying for their own military," Trump said during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 8. His remarks were interpreted in Seoul as an attempt to link trade negotiations with security issues, including defense cost‑sharing.
Officials believe that Wi's trip is aimed at reaching a last-minute understanding to avoid what South Korea sees as a "tariff bomb." During his earlier visit in early July, Wi and Rubio reportedly agreed on the need for an early summit between Lee and Trump, though no date was set.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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