Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Korea denies delay in US security talks as tariff uncertainties resurface
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a bilateral meeting at the U.S. State Department in Washington, Feb. 3. AFP-Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday dismissed concerns that security talks with the United States have been delayed due to renewed tariff-related uncertainties, saying a planned visit by a U.S. government security delegation remains on track.
"It's not that the visit has been put on hold. Rather, it is a scheduling issue," a senior ministry official said, on condition of anonymity, during a briefing when asked about the timeline.
The official added that the option remains open for a South Korean delegation to visit Washington if the plans are further delayed.
The ministry also rejected reports suggesting that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating President Donald Trump’s "reciprocal" tariffs could create procedural hurdles in implementing a bilateral trade agreement and potentially delay consultations over the security provisions outlined in a bilateral joint fact sheet.
"That is not true. There is no such problem, and the process is proceeding as planned," the official said.
The Seoul-Washington tariff agreement struck last October has faced fresh uncertainties following the Supreme Court's decision last Friday. Officials in Seoul have said that trade conditions are expected to remain in line with the prior agreement, which includes a $350 billion investment package.
The trade issue has nonetheless emerged as a new variable in ongoing security discussions between the allies.
A U.S. government delegation is considering a visit to Seoul to discuss security agendas, including South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and expanded rights over uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing.
The composition of Washington's delegation and the timing of the visit, however, have not been finalized. The trip was initially expected earlier this year but is now being discussed for mid-March.
The official acknowledged that evolving developments in Washington — including efforts to address tariff matters — may have affected scheduling priorities and the composition of the delegation.
"Ultimately, if there has been any delay in negotiations, it is due to broader issues such as the war in Ukraine, the situation in Iran and the Gaza crisis. It is not because of any specific problem in relations with the bilateral alliance," the official said.
Regarding North Korea, the official said Seoul's denuclearization initiative ultimately hinges on Pyongyang's return to the negotiating table, saying, "In the end, North Korea has to come forward. Otherwise, it’s just a tabletop exercise among ourselves."
Asked whether a summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could take place around an upcoming U.S.-China summit in April, the official said the possibility remains open, but Pyongyang's intentions remain unclear.
"So far, there has been neither a clear yes nor a clear no from North Korea," he said.