Photograph : YONHAP Information
The finance ministry has flatly denied that South Korea needs to conclude commerce talks with the U.S. earlier than the June 3 presidential election, overtly contradicting latest remarks from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The ministry mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that South Korea by no means conveyed to the U.S. any intent to finalize the framework of negotiations earlier than the presidential election after which use it as a part of the election marketing campaign.
The ministry mentioned that in the course of the latest “two-plus-two” commerce talks, the federal government requested the U.S. to think about South Korea’s political state of affairs and the necessity to talk with the Nationwide Meeting throughout future negotiations, stressing that the federal government won’t rush to conclude talks.
The assertion got here after Bessent mentioned in a press briefing on Tuesday that he might see the contours of a commerce take care of South Korea coming collectively.
Requested about the opportunity of delays in concluding talks with South Korea, Japan and different nations, with elections arising quickly, Bessent mentioned these nations need to have the “framework of a deal” earlier than they go into elections.
He mentioned they’re “truly rather more eager to return to the desk, get this finished, after which go dwelling and marketing campaign on it.”
