The pledge was part of a broader trade deal last July, in which Seoul agreed to invest US$350 billion in the U.S. in return for lowering reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, but the two sides have remained deadlocked over how to fund the massive investment, with negotiations stalled since then.
"The method of investment, the amount of investment, the timeline and how we will share the losses and divide the dividends - all of these remain sticking points," Lee said. "The U.S. will of course try to maximize its interests, but it mustn't be to the extent that causes catastrophic consequences for South Korea."
But he added, "The discussion is ongoing, and there are some differences of opinion, but the delay does not necessarily mean that this is a failure," further elaborating that the two allies "will be able to reach a rational result that is acceptable to all sides and this is what has to be done."
Lee's comments come as he is set to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju later this week, suggesting that the two sides may not be able to resolve their differences in time to finalize the deal.
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