Korea-US tariff agreement possible by APEC summit, Seoul's top security adviser says

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks during a briefing at the Korea Press Center in a hotel in New York, Tuesday. Yonhap

NEW YORK — National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac raised the possibility on Tuesday that Seoul and Washington could make progress in resolving the deadlock over tariff talks around the time of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting late next month.

The tariff talks have stalled since the two nations reached a broad agreement to reduce the U.S.' planned levy on Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent, with the main point of contention being Korea’s planned $350 billion investment fund.

“Of course, the differences are significant, and adjusting positions is not easy, but I don’t think it’s impossible,” Wi told reporters in New York during President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to the U.S. for the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

“Korea's position is grounded in objective facts and reason, not in unreasonable demands. That’s why I believe we can reach a compromise, and it would be best to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.”

Wi added that a swift resolution is needed since the tariffs are already in place.

He added that a settlement must be reached to enable a stable and predictable business environment for companies. While declining to specify a timeline, he expressed hope that a breakthrough could be reached around the time of the upcoming APEC summit, which will be held in Korea from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend the event.

“It would be good if it happens around APEC, but there is no rule that an agreement must coincide with a summit,” he explained. “If we can find common ground earlier, we can strike a deal earlier. That’s the approach we’re taking."

On the tariff negotiations impasse, Lee conveyed Korea’s position during his meeting with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on Monday.

"We’ll have to wait and see, but for now, we are communicating through various channels to convey our position on tariff negotiations and overall trade talks. In that context, I believe the financial line could also be engaged. The diplomatic and security channels are delivering the same message. Through this process, we will work to find common ground, with the aim of showing progress by the time of the next summit," Wi emphasized.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks during a briefing at the Korea Press Center in a hotel in New York, Tuesday. Yonhap

Meanwhile, Wi stressed that the president’s inter-Korean "END" initiative — focused on exchange, normalization and denuclearization — treats each element with equal priority, reflecting a balanced strategy.

In his keynote address at the U.N. General Assembly, Lee introduced the framework as his vision for improving inter-Korean relations. It involves resuming exchanges with North Korea, normalizing the relationship and denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. Wi elaborated that the components of "exchange, normalization and denuclearization" are intended to reinforce one another, rather than follow a set sequence or hierarchy.

“We aim to build a structure in which exchange, normalization and denuclearization advance together, through inter-Korean dialogue and talks with the United States,” he said.