SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that it remained unclear whether Seoul and Washington could conclude their tariff negotiations by the deadline set by President Donald Trump for next week, noting Thursday that both nations were still working to clarify their positions and identify areas of agreement.
Speaking at his first news conference since taking office last month, Lee also reiterated his intentions to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea, though he acknowledged that mutual distrust between the Koreas is too deep to heal anytime soon.
Trump鈥檚 tariff hikes and other 鈥淎merica First鈥 policies are for Lee's month-old government, as are North Korea's advancing nuclear program and domestic economic woes. Lee, a liberal, came to power after winning a snap presidential election caused by the ouster of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol over his
Lee calls tariff talks with US 鈥榗learly not easy鈥
Lee said the tariff negotiations with the U.S. have been 鈥渃learly not easy鈥 and stressed that the countries must reach mutually beneficial outcomes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to say with certainty whether we will be able to reach a conclusion by July 8. We are now doing our best,鈥 Lee said. 鈥漌hat we need is a truly reciprocal outcome that benefits both sides and works for everyone, but so far, both sides are still trying to define exactly what they want.鈥
Trump鈥檚 90-day pause in global reciprocal tariffs is set to expire on July 9, potentially exposing South Korean products to 25% tax rates.
Washington has separately been seeking higher duties on specific products such as automobiles and semiconductors, which are key exports for South Korea鈥檚 . There are growing concerns in Seoul that Trump may also demand a broader deal requiring South Korea to pay significantly more for the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in the country to deter North Korean threats.
Lee has consistently urged patience on tariffs, arguing that rushing to secure an early deal would not serve the national interest. His trade minister, Yeo Han-koo, was reportedly arranging a visit to Washington for possible meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Lee pushes to revive long-stalled talks with North Korea
On North Korea, Lee said he would seek to restore long-dormant talks with Pyongyang, whose expanding military cooperation with Russia pose major security concerns to their neighbors.
鈥淚 think we should improve relations with North Korea based on a reliable coordination and consultation between South Korea and the U.S.,鈥 Lee said. 鈥淏ut I expect that won鈥檛 be easy as mutual antagonism and distrust are too serious.鈥
Lee previously faced criticism that he was tilting toward North Korea and China and away from the U.S. and But during his campaign, Lee promised to pursue pragmatic diplomacy, saying he would bolster the alliance with the U.S. while also seeking to repair ties with North Korea, China and Russia. Some critics say it鈥檚 too difficult to satisfy all parties.
Lee added that he had proposed resuming more frequent summits with Japan.
Lee's government has made , halting frontline anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts and taking steps to ban activists from flying balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border.
Trump has also expressed intent to resume diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Lee has said he would support Trump鈥檚 push.
North Korea hasn鈥檛 publicly responded to the conciliatory gestures by Trump and Lee. But officials said North Korean propaganda broadcasts are no longer being heard in South Korean border towns.
North Korea has refused talks with the U.S. and South Korea since earlier . North Korea is now working to expand , supplying troops and weapons to support its war against Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance.
