South Korea's National Security Adviser Shin Won-shik has arrived in the United States for a four-day trip, amid the tariffs launched by US President Donald Trump, who has intensified his criticism of South Korea.
Shin told reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday that he was planning to meet high-ranking officials of the Donald Trump administration, including his US counterpart, Michael Waltz.
Shin's trip comes growing uncertainties posed by the US president in the wake of his return to the Oval Office less than two months ago.
When asked about a claim Trump made Tuesday about South Korea's tariffs on US goods here, Shin said, "South Korea's government is closely communicating with the US Department of Commerce or the Office of United States Trade Representative, so we expect a good outcome."
This came in response to Trump's remarks during his speech to a joint session of Congress, where he claimed, "South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher."
"Think of that, four times higher," Trump added. "And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea."
The Industry Ministry, however, refuted Trump's claim, saying the facts are wrong: South Korea's effective tariff rate on US imports came to around 0.79 percent as of 2024, as South Korea eliminated tariffs against most US imports here under the bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
Shin echoed this view, saying, "In fact, there are almost no tariffs between the two countries, so we will have to talk about this again."
As for the defense cost-sharing deal, which was most recently renewed in November, including an 8 percent increase for Seoul starting in 2026 through 2030, Shin said there has been no discussion on that, adding the matter will be "resolved through the spirit of alliance."
Trump said during his presidential campaign in October that he would demand Seoul pay $10 billion a year for the stationing of US Forces Korea ― nearly 10 times what Seoul is currently paying according to the agreement.
Shin is set to return to South Korea on Saturday. During his trip, Shin will touch on bilateral security and regional cooperation involving the two countries at high-level talks, according to the presidential office.
The presidential office, however, did not elaborate Shin's itinerary such as the date for his meeting with Waltz.
The talks will revolve around security issues on the Korean Peninsula, East Asia and across the globe, as well as cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, according to Shin.
Shin and Waltz have not officially met before. But the two held talks by phone on Feb. 5 Korea time. The two exchanged views on bilateral relations and trilateral relations involving Japan, as well as issues related to North Korea, according to Seoul.
Before Shin, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun also held talks with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in late February.
Shin last visited the US in late October for three-way talks involving top security advisers of the US and Japan during former President Joe Biden's term. Shin, formerly a defense minister, has served as Korea's national security adviser since August.
consnow@heraldcorp.com
