South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that it is still uncertain whether Seoul and Washington will be able to wrap up their ongoing tariff negotiations before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump next week, adding that both sides are still working to clarify their respective positions and find common ground.
During his first news conference since taking office last month, Lee also reaffirmed his commitment to mending severely strained ties with North Korea but acknowledged that the deep-rooted distrust between the two Koreas will take significant time to overcome.
Lee’s administration, only a month old, faces major challenges, including Trump’s tariff hikes and other “America First” policies, North Korea’s advancing nuclear arsenal, and domestic economic difficulties. The liberal leader came to power after winning a snap election triggered by the impeachment and removal of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, following Yoon’s controversial imposition of martial law last December.
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Lee described the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States as “clearly not easy,” emphasizing that any agreement must be fair and beneficial to both countries.
“It’s hard to say definitively whether we’ll reach a deal by July 8. We are putting in our best efforts,” Lee said. “What matters is achieving a truly reciprocal outcome that works for both sides, but so far, both parties are still defining their demands.”
Trump’s 90-day suspension of global reciprocal tariffs is set to end on July 9, after which South Korean exports could face tariffs as high as 25%.
In addition, Washington has been pushing for increased tariffs on specific South Korean goods, particularly automobiles and semiconductors, which are critical to South Korea’s export-driven economy. There are also growing concerns that Trump may demand that South Korea significantly raise its financial contributions to support the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula as a deterrent against North Korea.
Lee has repeatedly called for patience in the tariff talks, warning that rushing into an early agreement could harm South Korea’s national interests. Reports suggest Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is preparing for a possible visit to Washington for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
On the North Korean issue, Lee said he intends to revive long-stalled inter-Korean dialogue, noting that North Korea’s deepening military cooperation with Russia is a growing security concern for the region.
“I believe we need to improve relations with North Korea based on close coordination and consultation between South Korea and the United States,” Lee said. “But I understand this won’t be easy because of the serious level of mutual distrust and hostility.”
Lee had previously faced criticism for allegedly favoring closer ties with North Korea and China over relations with the U.S. and Japan. However, since his election victory, he has repeatedly pledged to pursue pragmatic diplomacy — strengthening South Korea’s alliance with Washington while also seeking improved relations with North Korea, China, and Russia. Critics, however, argue that satisfying all sides will be extremely difficult.
Since taking office, Lee’s administration has taken several trust-building steps toward North Korea, including halting propaganda broadcasts along the border and moving to ban activists from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets by balloon across the border.
North Korea has not publicly reacted to these overtures from both Trump and Lee. However, officials noted that North Korean propaganda broadcasts have recently stopped in South Korean border regions.
Lee said he has been consulting with national security and intelligence officials about ways to restart dialogue with Pyongyang but did not disclose specific plans.
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Trump has also expressed willingness to resume diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Lee has pledged his support for Trump’s efforts.
North Korea has refused to engage in talks with the U.S. and South Korea since the collapse of Trump-Kim nuclear negotiations in 2019. Pyongyang has since focused on deepening ties with Russia, supplying troops and weapons to assist Moscow’s war in Ukraine in exchange for economic and military aid.