Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Acting president, Trump discuss cooperation on shipbuilding, LNG, trade balance
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo talks on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump at Seoul Government Complex in central Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Prime Minister's Secretariat
By Anna J. Park
2 leaders hold first phone conversation
Acting President Han Duck-soo had a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening. The phone call began at 9:03 p.m. and lasted for about 28 minutes.
It was the first conversation between Korea's acting president and the U.S. president since the latter's inauguration and the ouster of former Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
During the talks, Han emphasized Korea's strong commitment and willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in three key areas: shipbuilding, LNG and trade balance, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
"The two leaders agreed to continue constructive ministerial-level discussions on economic cooperation, including the trade balance, in order to find mutually beneficial solutions for both countries," it said in a press release.
In addition, Han highlighted the need for cooperation on North Korea's denuclearization. Both leaders agreed to continue close coordination on North Korea policy going forward, sharing the view that the trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan is crucial for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
According to Trump's social media account on Truth Social, the two leaders discussed various topics, including tariffs, cooperation on shipbuilding and LNG purchases.
"I just had a great call with the acting president of South Korea. We talked about their tremendous and unsustainable surplus, tariffs, shipbuilding, large scale purchase of U.S. LNG, their joint venture in an Alaska Pipeline, and payment for the big time military protection we provide to South Korea," Trump wrote in his social media account minutes after the call was closed.
Trump claimed Korea started making billions of dollars of military payments during his first term but the Joe Biden administration terminated it. He also mentioned the "probability of a great DEAL for both countries," which implies he may seek a new deal to raise Korea's defense cost for stationing the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea.
Direct talks between Korean and U.S. leaders had not been made for more than two months since Trump took office. Following Yoon's impeachment by the National Assembly in mid-December, Han became acting president, until he also faced a legislative impeachment. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok served as acting president until Han was recently restored to the role.
Their phone conversation came as the U.S. is set to impose a 25 percent "reciprocal" tariff on imports from Korea starting Wednesday. Korea's Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo departed for Washington on Tuesday to meet his U.S. counterparts to seek ways to lower the tariff rate.