US confident alliance with S. Korea will 'thrive' under Lee's leadership: State Dept.
Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson, made the remarks during a regular press briefing, responding to a question by Yonhap News Agency regarding the Lee administration's pursuit of a "pragmatic" foreign policy that regards the bilateral alliance as its "foundation."
"We congratulate the president on his election as the president of the Republic of Korea, and we're confident under his leadership, our alliance will continue to thrive," Bruce said, referring to South Korea by its official name.
She also confirmed the phone call that Lee and US President Donald Trump had on Friday.
During the 20-minute call, Lee and Trump agreed to work together to swiftly reach a mutually satisfactory trade agreement, according to Lee's office.
The two leaders are expected to have their first in-person encounter on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit, set to be held in Alberta, Canada, from June 15-17. (Yonhap)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Saluting the sacrifice of UNC veterans
Five foreign veterans of the United Nations Command who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War were greeted with a standing ovation from a crowd of over 1,000 at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, where a ceremony was held to mark UN Forces Participation Day, observed annually on July 27. The national day of remembrance to honor the sacrifices and contributions of UN veterans also marks the date when the armistice agreement was signed to halt the Korean War in 1953. Throughout the three-year conflict, more than 1.9 million personnel from 22 countries served under the UNC flag, providing combat, medical and logistical support. During the ceremony, the South Korean government posthumously presented the Order of Taegeuk Military Merit, the country's highest military honor, to the late US veteran Fred McGee. From January to November 1952, McGee served in the US Army as a private first class with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok entered the venue pushing the wheelchair of a veteran who had difficulty walking. 'Our alliance has grown stronger, and together we will continue moving toward a future of peace and prosperity,' Kim said during his speech. 'Despite the sacrifices made by the UN forces and our own efforts 75 years ago, the pain of division still lingers,' he added, pledging to expand scholarship programs and exchange camps for the descendants of Korean War veterans.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Industry minister ends 2-day tariff talks with Lutnick without results
South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan has wrapped up his two-day tariff talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, without tangible results, sources said Saturday. Kim and Lutnick's second-day meeting, which took place at Lutnick's residence in New York, finished late Friday night (US time) without solid results, according to the sources familiar with the matter. The two had also met the previous day in Washington to discuss pending trade issues, including tariffs, non-tariff measures and industrial cooperation. In Friday's meeting, Kim is said to have presented a revised proposal to narrow their differences on contentious items, including the $100 billion investment plan by Korean companies in the US and what Washington calls "trade barriers" on beef and rice imports by Seoul. The Donald Trump administration has reportedly been pressuring Korea to lift its import ban on American beef from cattle aged 30 months or older and expand rice imports from the US. However, the advanced proposal appears to have fallen short of satisfying Lutnick, as the sources indicated South Korea needs further "internal discussions" based on the results of this week's negotiations. The presidential office is reportedly planning to hold another trade strategy meeting later in the day to discuss the next steps toward securing a tariff deal with the US, following a similar session held the previous day. South Korea faces added pressure in the negotiations as Japan, one of its major export competitors, recently concluded a trade deal with Washington that lowered reciprocal tariffs to 15 percent in exchange for further opening of its markets to American automobiles and agricultural products, along with a $550 billion investment pledge. The Trump administration has warned Korea will be subject to a 25 percent reciprocal tariff unless it reaches a deal before Aug. 1. Meanwhile, Kim also met with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who doubles as chairman of the National Energy Council, this week to discuss strengthening cooperation in areas such as liquefied natural gas, energy security and critical minerals, according to his office. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo also held separate meetings with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a bid to make progress in trade negotiations. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
US continues to have 'productive' talks with S. Korea to reduce 'unfair' trade barriers: White House
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump's administration continues to have "productive" negotiations with South Korea to reduce "unfair" trade barriers and enhance market access for US businesses, a White House official said Friday. South Korea has been making concerted efforts to reach a trade deal with Washington to reduce the threatened 25 percent "reciprocal" tariffs and sector-specific tariffs on steel and automobiles before Aug. 1, when the reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect. "We continue to have productive negotiations with South Korea to reduce unfair trade barriers and improve market access for American firms," the official told Yonhap News Agency via email. The official's characterization of the negotiations as "productive" raised cautious hope for headway in the trade talks, as Seoul has made proposals for bilateral cooperation in key strategic industry sectors, including shipbuilding, semiconductors and batteries. On Thursday, South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met jointly with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington as part of their efforts to reach a trade deal with the Trump administration. Seoul's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and Yeo had planned to have a "two-plus-two" meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in the US capital on Friday, but the meeting was postponed due to a scheduling conflict on Bessent's part. Earlier in the day, Trump said that his administration will have most of its trade deals with countries finished by Aug. 1. The president also said his administration might send close to 200 countries a letter on their tariff rate, which he said means, "They have a deal. It's done." (Yonhap)
