SEOUL: Negotiations ranging from tariffs to defence between South Korea and the United States were bogged down, overshadowing a handshake agreement and a promising presidential summit, officials in Seoul said.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met US President Donald Trump for the first time on Monday (Sep 1), and emerged declaring success after displaying personal chemistry and avoiding any public split between the two long-time allies.
Behind the scenes, however, the two sides were unable to agree on a joint statement or even a fact sheet, and a month after announcing a deal on tariffs, the agreement still has not been finalised on paper.
Lee’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said on Friday that the two countries did not produce documents covering security, economy, trade or investments because progress remained slow in some areas while large strides had been made in other areas.
More discussions and reviews were needed to hash out their details, he added, without providing specific details.
South Korean presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters on Thursday that it was a “very difficult negotiation” because issues ranging from investments to security are closely intertwined.
“If the negotiations for one minister doesn’t go well, they put a break on another negotiation that is going well,” he said.
“We’ve overcome a significant obstacle, but there is still a long way to go.”
Kang added that Washington could leverage several issues such as tariffs on cars, chips, and pharmaceuticals, as well as defence costs and around US forces stationed in Korea.
Speaking to his cabinet after the summit, Trump acknowledged a “problem with South Korea” but that Seoul had ultimately “kept the same deal”. Neither Seoul nor Washington has elaborated.
The US Embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to questions about the talks.
