Seoul: South Korea’s National Security Adviser, Wi Sung-lac, is scheduled to travel to Washington this week to hold talks with senior US officials on follow-up measures after the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, sources said on Monday.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Wi is expected to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as the national security adviser, during his visit beginning Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The visit comes after the two allies released a joint fact sheet last month outlining key security and trade agreements reached during the second Lee–Trump summit held on October 29 in Gyeongju, South Korea, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference.
To advance working-level discussions on security-related agreements with the United States, South Korea’s presidential National Security Office has formed three dedicated task force teams. Key agenda items are expected to include Seoul’s plans for developing nuclear-powered submarines, securing uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities, and addressing challenges related to defence budget allocations.
Wi is also likely to discuss coordination on North Korea policy, particularly in light of the White House’s newly released National Security Strategy, which does not explicitly mention Pyongyang. The omission has raised questions in Seoul about whether the Trump administration may be placing less emphasis on the North Korea issue.
Although both President Lee and President Trump have expressed interest in resuming dialogue with North Korea, it remains uncertain whether Pyongyang would be willing to engage in talks.
On the trade front, South Korea’s Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Friday that a joint committee under the South Korea–US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be formed soon to implement a recent tariff agreement between the two countries.
During meetings in late October, Seoul and Washington finalised an agreement detailing South Korea’s US$350 billion investment plan in exchange for reduced US tariffs. While chairing a ministerial meeting on the economy, Koo said both sides aim to convene the FTA Joint Committee at the earliest to ensure smooth implementation of the agreed measures.
Last week, the Trump administration published a notification in the Federal Register implementing several tariff provisions, including a reduction in duties on South Korean automobiles to 15 percent, retroactive from November 1.
Koo said Seoul will closely coordinate with Washington to ensure that non-tariff measures are implemented in a manner that serves South Korea’s national interests. He also pledged to expedite negotiations to secure tariff reductions on other goods eligible for relief, including natural resources and generic medicines.
