Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he and South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo engaged in discussions regarding Seoul's financial contributions for U.S. military protection and South Korea's trade surplus with the U.S. during their first phone call since Trump's inauguration in January.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the conversation occurred shortly after South Korea's Constitutional Court removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office following his brief imposition of martial law in December. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the call as "great," indicating discussions on South Korea's trade surplus, tariffs, shipbuilding, LNG purchases, and military payments. Trump criticized President Joe Biden for terminating a previous military payment deal and expressed optimism for a mutually beneficial agreement. He noted that South Korea's negotiation team is en route to the U.S.
Trump's comments suggested comprehensive negotiations beyond tariffs, including other bilateral matters. His mention of U.S. military protection fueled speculation about renegotiating South Korea's cost-sharing for the 28,500 U.S. Forces Korea troops. The recently concluded Special Measures Agreement requires Seoul to pay 1.52 trillion won in 2026, increasing from 1.4 trillion won in 2025. Trump had previously remarked that South Korea would be paying $10 billion annually for USFK maintenance if he were in office.
The discussion between Trump and Han comes as South Korea seeks to mitigate the impact of new U.S. tariffs, including 25 percent duties, introduced by Trump to reduce trade deficits and boost domestic manufacturing. The energy sector, particularly the Alaska LNG project, is a focal point of bilateral cooperation, with investments expected to reach trillions of dollars.
Han's office reported that during the 28-minute call, he emphasized the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance for diplomacy and security. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the military alliance and discussed its future development. Han highlighted South Korea's intent for advanced cooperation in shipbuilding, LNG, and trade balance, agreeing to continue economic consultations at a ministerial level.
On North Korean threats, Han expressed a desire for joint efforts to ensure Pyongyang understands the international community's resolve for denuclearization. The leaders also agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation with Japan for regional peace and stability. This call marks the first leader-to-leader engagement following Han's suspension and the political uncertainties in South Korea. Han resumed duties two weeks ago after the top court dismissed the impeachment against him.