Trump's Big Asia Tour: Trade, Missiles, and Meetings

South Korea: Trade, Defense, and North Korea

President Donald Trump is in South Korea for his final stop on a whirlwind Asia trip. His agenda is packed with high-stakes meetings, including discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

From Tokyo to Gyeongju

Fresh off a deal with Japan's new prime minister, Trump is now in Gyeongju, a historic town. There, he will address a group of CEOs and hold talks with President Lee.

Trade and Investment

• Trade Agreement: The U.S. and South Korea reached a deal in August, but progress has stalled.
• $350 Billion Investment: South Korea promised to invest in the U.S., but details are still being worked out.
• Defense Costs: Trump is pushing South Korea to contribute more to defense expenses.
• Immigration Talks: South Korea seeks changes to U.S. immigration laws to bring in more workers, following a raid on a Hyundai factory in Georgia.

North Korea Tensions

• Missile Test: North Korea recently test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile.
• Trump-Kim Meeting: Trump has called for a meeting with Kim Jong Un, but there's been no response.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum

• Security Tight: Gyeongju is on high alert for the APEC forum.
• Trump's Schedule: He will skip the main summit, focusing instead on CEO meetings and one-on-one talks, including with Xi Jinping.

U.S.-China Trade Talks

• Tariff Pause: The U.S. and China are nearing a deal to pause tariffs and export controls.
• Stock Market Boost: The news has sent Asian stocks soaring.
• Taiwan's Stance: Taiwan's foreign minister says he's not worried Trump will abandon them in talks with Xi.

Trump's Asia Tour Highlights

• Malaysia: Announced new trade deals and helped resolve a border conflict.
• Tokyo: Praised Japan's new prime minister and signed trade deals.

South Korea's Investment Dilemma

• U.S. Expectations: The U.S. wants South Korea to make a similar investment deal as Japan.
• South Korea's Stance: They claim they can't afford the $350 billion upfront and have proposed an alternative plan. A last-minute deal is possible.