"To align with the APEC summit schedule, we are not considering signing an MOU by agreeing only on parts while issues remain unresolved."
Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom said on the morning of the 22nd at Incheon International Airport, departing for the United States with Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, that "only when South Korea and the United States reach agreement on the entire contents of the MOU can we conclude it as a deliverable."
Deputy Minister Kim boarded a flight to the United States again three days after returning from a trip to the U.S., and Minister Kim did so two days after returning home. Minister Kim visited Washington from the 16th to the 20th, held negotiations with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and others, and the two sides were said to have narrowed differences on a substantial portion.
However, the Minister said, "We reached agreement on most issues, but our positions still differ greatly on one or two items," and explained, "I am traveling to the U.S. again to devise a settlement plan that serves the national interest."
As news of their return trip to the U.S. emerged, some projected that there would be visible results related to tariff negotiations at the second South Korea-U.S. summit scheduled for next week. The two leaders exchanged views on key pending issues such as the modality of investment in the United States at the Washington summit at the end of Aug., but they did not reach the signing of a joint statement.
The progress in the negotiations appears to reflect that both sides view the summit in Gyeongju as a "decisive opportunity," and that differences have recently narrowed on some issues. Minister Kim on the 20th hinted at the possibility of a deal at the APEC summit, saying, "As it is a rare opportunity for the two leaders to meet, there is a consensus to conclude the negotiations through this summit."
Some predicted that, as in the U.S.-Japan case, South Korea and the United States could sign a separate memorandum of understanding (MOU) on certain parts. However, the government's position is to coordinate the remaining issues and produce a single agreement. Minister Kim emphasized, "It will be a tense time until the last moment," adding, "We will produce results that can uphold the national interest to the end."
Deputy Minister Kim explained that if the two countries' joint statement is announced, the achievements of the first summit will also be included. He said, "There were major achievements in areas such as security at the Washington meeting, but they were not announced because the trade institutional sector did not reach agreement," adding, "Once these negotiations are concluded, we will be able to release the achievements so far together."
Meanwhile, the additional consultations were reportedly decided urgently right after Deputy Minister Kim and Minister Kim gave an in-person briefing to President Lee Jae-myung on the progress of the negotiations the previous day. The presidential office and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy issued an urgent notice of the two officials' U.S. travel schedule at around 11 p.m. the previous day. The two are expected to return home around this weekend after meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick for consultations.