Trade deal with US unclear ahead of deadline: S Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said that it remained unclear whether Seoul and Washington could conclude their tariff negotiations by the deadline set by President Donald Trump for next week, noting on Thursday that both nations were still working to clarify their positions and identify areas of agreement.

- Associated Press

Speaking at his first news conference since taking office last month, Lee also reiterated his intentions to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea, though he acknowledged that mutual distrust between the Koreas is too deep to heal anytime soon.

Trump’s tariff hikes and other “America First” policies are major challenges for Lee's month-old government, as are North Korea’s advancing nuclear programme and domestic economic woes. Lee, a liberal, came to power after winning a snap presidential election caused by the ouster of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law in December.