South Korea and the US have but to launch their joint reality sheet on the end result of final week’s summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, elevating hypothesis about what has brought about the prolonged delay.
Seoul officers mentioned earlier the 2 sides plan to launch the very fact sheet outlining the small print of what was agreed upon between the 2 leaders inside “two or three days” of their summit, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on Oct. 29.
The joint reality sheet is anticipated to stipulate the specifics of South Korea’s $350 billion funding pledge, made in return for the US decreasing its tariff price on South Korean items to fifteen % from 25 %.
The actual fact sheet can be anticipated to offer particulars on safety commitments, together with plans for supporting Seoul’s efforts to safe gasoline provides for nuclear-powered submarines, as Trump has signaled willingness to take action after the summit with Lee.
As the discharge of the joint doc seems to be delayed, hypothesis has grown that extended interagency coordination throughout the U.S. authorities could also be behind the hold-up.
Seoul has reportedly handed over its draft model of the very fact sheet to Washington and is awaiting a response, based on sources with data of the matter, suggesting that the delay will not be as a result of an unfinished negotiation however has extra to do with the fine-tuning amongst related U.S. authorities companies.
Talking earlier than lawmakers Thursday, International Minister Cho Hyun mentioned the State Division had requested him to “wait a bit of longer.”
“It’s not that we’re dragging our toes, however the delay is essentially as a result of coordination course of with the US,” Cho mentioned throughout a Nationwide Meeting session.
“I’ve heard that the U.S. aspect is getting the ultimate affirmation from related authorities companies,” he mentioned.
As for the difficulty of nuclear-powered submarines, it could require coordination no less than between the State Division and the Division of Power, in addition to different related nationwide safety companies. Such a delicate matter would additionally require time to deliberate over the wording and phrasing of the doc.
Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back gave the same view throughout a parliamentary session Wednesday, saying points just like the nuclear-powered submarines would wish such interagency-level coordination in Washington.
The discharge of the joint reality sheet may very well be additional delayed, as South Korea might want to overview the U.S. draft as soon as Washington sends it again to Seoul.
There additionally stays a risk that the 2 sides have but to completely attain frequent floor on key safety points, notably on how one can permit Seoul to supply its personal gasoline for nuclear submarines.
That will require both a revision of their nuclear vitality pact or the signing of a separate settlement. Washington holds the ability to grant Seoul consent to counterpoint uranium to be used in nuclear-powered submarines.
The delay in releasing the very fact sheet has additionally held up the allies’ announcement of the end result of their annual safety talks, held earlier this week between Ahn and U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth.
The 2 protection chiefs mentioned key alliance points, together with South Korea’s bid to retake wartime operational management from the U.S. and its plans to extend protection spending — particulars that should align with what will probably be acknowledged within the joint reality sheet.
