Han Duck-soo, the acting president of South Korea, said that he expects the trade talks to begin this week with the United States in Washington. However he added that the negotiations may not be simple.

Han stated that the South Korean ministers of Finance and Industry will meet U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent, and USTR Representative Jamieson Greer at 8 a.m. (00000 GMT) on April 24, 2008.

Han stated that Seoul would make an "all out effort" to find a solution for both parties by consulting "calmly" and "seriously" with the U.S., under the principle of prioritizing national interests.

Han stated that the consultation process with the U.S. "may not be easy" and he was aware of the many expectations and concerns as the consultations with the U.S. began. Han spoke at a discussion on the economy with South Korean officials.

Han said that the focus of the talks would be on trade balances and shipbuilding, as well as liquefied gas. Trump had previously stated that defence cost sharing would be included in "one-stop-shopping" negotiations with Seoul.

Kim Hyunchong, a senior foreign policy advisor to Lee Jae Myung, the front-runner for the presidential election, warned Han and the other cabinet members against making concessions and negotiating hastily with the United States. He said that this would compromise national interests.

Kim, the head of the task force for trade and security within the liberal party, has said that the interim government shouldn't be in charge. She also asserted that no deal was better than a poor deal.

Kim was South Korea's Trade Minister in 2018, when the country renegotiated an agreement with the United States under Trump's first administration. (Reporting and editing by Joyce Lee and Hyunsu Yaim; reporting by Hyunjoo Ji and Jacqueline Wong).

(source: Reuters)