Trump Pressures South Korea on Alaska LNG Investment: "Double the Burden if No Deal"

South Korean Government Draws a Line: "Investment Decision and Amount Not Determined"
Trump Pushes Back: "I'll Just Charge Them More"
Tariffs and Investment Burden May Increase
Korea-U.S. Fact Sheet Specifies "Further Negotiations" on Alaska LNG Project

U.S. President Donald Trump on October 2 (local time) pressured South Korea, warning that he would raise South Korea's burden if it does not soon agree to invest in the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

When reporters at the White House asked President Trump if the announcement was premature, given that South Korea had not yet agreed to the Alaska project, he responded, "It was not premature. They were there, and the South Korean delegation was there too."

He continued, "If they don't want to do it, that's fine with me. I'll just charge them more." When asked again about South Korea not agreeing, he added, "Tell them that if they do not agree soon, I will double it."

U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House

President Trump did not specify what exactly would be doubled. However, this is interpreted as a warning that tariffs or the burden of investment in the United States could be increased if South Korea does not cooperate with the Alaska project.

Last year, South Korea agreed to invest $350 billion in the U.S. and the U.S. lowered its tariffs from 25% to 15%. On September 30, President Trump announced that South Korea had agreed to invest $50 billion in the Alaska project, but the South Korean government stated, "No decision or amount has been determined regarding the investment."

There is speculation that President Trump's pressure is influenced by the U.S. midterm elections, now just a month away. It is analyzed that the announcement of the Alaska project itself was intended to support an incumbent Republican senator engaged in a close race with a Democratic candidate in the local Senate election.

According to the joint Korea-U.S. fact sheet, the Encinal Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant in Texas will be promoted as the first major investment project in the United States, while the construction of eight large nuclear power plants and the Alaska project are subject to further negotiations. This stands in contrast to President Trump's comment that South Korea will invest $50 billion in the Alaska project.

President Trump is also making unilateral announcements regarding South Korea's investment in the United States. On the morning of October 2, via Truth Social, he announced that South Korea would invest $8.4 billion in an oil expansion project. However, the South Korean government said this was not included in the Korea-U.S. investment agreement and that they were confirming the facts with the U.S. side.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.