Latest news with #70thMemorialDay
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
South Korea's Lee, Trump Agree to Work Towards Swift Tariff Deal, Lee's Office Says
Pool via REUTERS South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a ceremony to mark the 70th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2025. SEOUL/WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung agreed to work toward a swift tariff deal in their first phone call since Lee was elected this week, Lee's office said on Friday. Trump has imposed tariffs on South Korea, a long time ally with which it has a bilateral free trade deal, and pressed it to pay more for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed there. Separately, Trump allies have aired concerns about Lee's more conciliatory stance towards China, Washington's main geopolitical rival. Lee, a liberal, was elected on June 3 after former conservative leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached and ousted. The future of South Korea's export-oriented economy may hinge on what kind of deal Lee can strike with Trump, with all of his country's key sectors from chips to autos and shipbuilding heavily exposed to global trade. His term began on Wednesday. 'The two presidents agreed to make an effort to reach a satisfactory agreement on tariff consultations as soon as possible that both countries can be satisfied with,' Lee's office said in a statement. 'To this end, they decided to encourage working-level negotiations to yield tangible results.' Trump invited Lee to a summit in the U.S. and they plan to meet soon, according to a White House official. Analysts say the first opportunity for the two to meet could be at a G7 summit in Canada in mid-June. Lee's office said the two leaders also discussed the assassination attempts they both experienced last year as well as their enthusiasm for golf. Lee underwent surgery after he was stabbed in the neck by a man in January last year, while Trump was wounded in the ear by a bullet fired by a would-be assassin in July. South Korea, a major U.S. ally and one of the first countries after Japan to engage with Washington on trade talks, agreed in late April to craft a 'July package' scrapping levies before the 90-day pause on Trump's reciprocal tariffs is lifted, but progress was disrupted by the change of governments in Seoul. Lee said on the eve of the elections that 'the most pressing matter is trade negotiations with the United States.' Lee's camp has said, however, that they intend to seek more time to negotiate on trade with Trump. While reiterating the importance of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, Lee has also expressed more conciliatory plans for ties with China and North Korea, singling out the importance of China as a major trading partner while indicating a reluctance to take a firm stance on security tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Political analysts say that while Trump and Lee may share a desire to try to re-engage with North Korea, Lee's stance on China could cause friction with the U.S. A White House official said this week that South Korea's election was fair, but expressed concern about Chinese interference in what analysts said may have been a cautionary message to Lee. Speaking in Singapore last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said many countries were tempted by the idea of seeking economic cooperation with China and defense cooperation with the United States, and warned that such entanglement complicated defense cooperation.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea's Lee, Trump agree to work towards swift tariff deal, Lee's office says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for the new U.S. ambassador to China, former U.S. Senator David Perdue, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a ceremony to mark the 70th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2025. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL - U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung agreed to work toward a swift tariff deal and shared stories about their experiences in their first phone call since Lee was elected, his office said on Friday. Trump has imposed tariffs on South Korea, which has a bilateral free trade deal, pressed it to pay more for the 28,500 troops stationed there and increased competition with China. The future of South Korea's export-oriented economy will hinge on what kind of deal Lee can strike, with all of his country's key sectors from chips to autos and shipbuilding heavily exposed to global trade. His term began on Wednesday. "The two presidents agreed to make an effort to reach a satisfactory agreement on tariff consultations as soon as possible that both countries can be satisfied with," Lee's office said in a statement. "To this end, they decided to encourage working-level negotiations to yield tangible results." Trump invited Lee to a summit in the U.S. and they plan to meet soon, according to a White House official. The two leaders also shared stories from the campaign trail, including of assassination attempts and political difficulties, and agreed that strong leadership emerges as they overcome difficulties, Lee's office said. Lee survived a knife attack and underwent surgery when he was stabbed in the neck by a man during an event last year. Trump and Lee also talked of their golf skills and agreed to play golf when possible, Lee's office said, while Lee mentioned that he was gifted a hat with Trump's signature on it. South Korea, a major U.S. ally and one of the first countries to engage with Washington after Japan on trade talks, agreed in late April to craft a "July package" scrapping levies before the 90-day pause on Trump's reciprocal tariffs is lifted, but progress was disrupted by upheavals in its leadership. Lee, a liberal, was elected on June 3 after the U.S. ally's former conservative leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached and ousted. Lee said on the eve of the elections that "the most pressing matter is trade negotiations with the United States." Lee's camp has said, however, that they intend to seek more time to negotiate on trade with Trump. While reiterating the importance of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, Lee has also expressed more conciliatory plans for ties with China and North Korea, singling out the importance of China as a major trading partner while indicating reluctance to take a firm stance on security tensions in the Taiwan Strait. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea's Lee, Trump agree to work towards swift trade deal, Lee's office says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for the new U.S. ambassador to China, former U.S. Senator David Perdue, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a ceremony to mark the 70th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2025. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL - U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung agreed to work toward a swift trade deal in their first phone call since Lee was elected, Lee's office said on Friday. "The two presidents resolved to make an effort to reach a satisfactory agreement on tariff consultations as soon as possible, that both countries can be satisfied with. To this end, they decided to encourage working-level negotiations to yield tangible results," Lee's office said in a statement. Trump spoke with Lee, invited Lee to a summit in the U.S., and they plan to meet soon, according to a White House official. The two leaders also swapped stories from the campaign trail, including sharing stories of assassination attempts and political difficulties, and agreed that strong leadership will emerge as they overcome difficulties, Lee's office said. Lee survived a knife attack and underwent surgery when he was stabbed in the neck by a man during an event last year. Trump and Lee also talked of their golf skills and agreed to play golf when possible, Lee's office said, while Lee mentioned that he was gifted a hat with Trump's signature on it. Lee was elected on June 3 after the U.S. ally's former leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached and ousted. Lee's term began on Wednesday. The future of South Korea's export-oriented economy will hinge on what kind of deal he can strike, with all of his country's key sectors from chips to autos and shipbuilding heavily exposed to global trade. He said on the eve of the elections that "the most pressing matter is trade negotiations with the United States." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
Remembering the sacrifices
Commemorating the 70th Memorial Day on Friday, bereaved families of soldiers and independence fighters who died during Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the 1950–53 Korean War paid tribute to their loved ones with white chrysanthemums, silent prayers and solemn tears. Established in April 1956, Memorial Day honors the sacrifices made not only by fallen soldiers but also by public servants who died in service to the nation. It was set for June 6 to align with "mangjong," one of the 24 seasonal divisions on the lunar calendar that signals the beginning of the planting season. Traditionally, Koreans viewed this time as a symbol of renewal and hope. In Daegu, Pabashi Mohan, daughter of Col. M.K. Unni Nayar, an Indian officer who was killed in action during the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter near Waegwan in the Korean War, laid flowers at a memorial service held at the Nayar Memorial in Beomeo-dong, Suseong District. Citizens visited Seoul Plaza to express gratitude for the sacrifices of veterans in front of a large banner on the outer wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Library that reads, 'We will remember the sacrifices of war veterans as a 'garden of gratitude.'" At Cheong Wa Dae, where the national flag was flown at half-staff, some visitors paused to observe a moment of silence during their tour.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] Remembering the sacrifices
Commemorating the 70th Memorial Day on Friday, bereaved families of soldiers and independence fighters who died during Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the 1950–53 Korean War paid tribute to their loved ones with white chrysanthemums, silent prayers and solemn tears. Established in April 1956, Memorial Day honors the sacrifices made not only by fallen soldiers but also by public servants who died in service to the nation. It was set for June 6 to align with "mangjong," one of the 24 seasonal divisions on the lunar calendar that signals the beginning of the planting season. Traditionally, Koreans viewed this time as a symbol of renewal and hope. In Daegu, Pabashi Mohan, daughter of Col. M.K. Unni Nayar, an Indian officer who was killed in action during the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter near Waegwan in the Korean War, laid flowers at a memorial service held at the Nayar Memorial in Beomeo-dong, Suseong District. Citizens visited Seoul Plaza to express gratitude for the sacrifices of veterans in front of a large banner on the outer wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Library that reads, 'We will remember the sacrifices of war veterans as a 'garden of gratitude.'"
