(LEAD) S. Korea hopes for progress in U.S. trade talks ahead of APEC summit

▲ National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac explains President Lee Jae Myung's attendance at the U.N. General Assembly in New York during a press briefing on Sept. 23, 2025. (Yonhap)

▲ President Lee Jae Myung delivers a keynote speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) security adviser-N Korea

(LEAD) S. Korea hopes for progress in U.S. trade talks ahead of APEC summit

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By Kim Eun-jung

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office said Tuesday it hopes to produce progress in stalled trade talks with the United States ahead of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, but Seoul aims to reach a deal even before the APEC summit.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac made the remarks while accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his trip to New York, as trade negotiations between South Korean and the U.S. have showed little headway on details of Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge linked to lowering U.S. tariffs on Korean products from 25 percent to 15 percent.

While negotiators are working out details, Wi said the upcoming APEC summit, slated for late October in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, could provide an opportunity to finalize a deal.

"It would be good to clinch (a trade deal) in light of the APEC summit, but (negotiators) are engaging in talks with the position that an agreement could be reached before then if the two sides find common ground," Wi told reporters.

The gathering is expected to serve as the venue for Lee's second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he will attend.

Wi also said Seoul has been delivering its position through various channels on the need for a currency swap arrangement with Washington, expressing hope the two sides can find common ground.

During his New York trip, Lee met with a delegation of U.S. lawmakers to explain Seoul's investment pledge and the difficulties in the ongoing trade talks, seeking congressional support for a deal.

Wi also explained Lee's "END" initiative on dialogue with North Korea — exchange, normalization and denuclearization — which the president presented in his U.N. General Assembly address earlier in the day.

He described it as an integrated approach to end confrontation and hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, despite Pyongyang's rejection of Seoul's peace overtures.

"Lee's goal is to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue through a comprehensive approach centered on these principles," Wi said, adding there is no element or sequence among the three elements.

He noted the principles were also emphasized in past inter-Korean agreements and in the 2018 Singapore declaration adopted between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Wi's remarks came amid cautious hope for a possible resumption of talks between Trump and Kim, who met three times during Trump's first term.

Trump has expressed willingness to resume dialogue with North Korea, while Kim recently said he still has a "good memory" of Trump but urged Washington to drop its demand for denuclearization.

While Lee's three-phased denuclearization road map begins with a "stop" to the nuclear and missile program, going through a "reduction" process and reaching "dismantlement," Wi said the END initiative is designed as a comprehensive approach encompassing denuclearization, and inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea relations.

Asked whether Seoul is preparing concrete measures to improve ties with Pyongyang, Wi said a thaw in the inter-Korean ties is unlikely in the near term as the North has been "very negative" toward dialogue with the South, while showing less hostility toward Washington.

"As far as I know, mentionable discussions are not taking place between the U.S. and North Korea," he added.

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