Trade talks with US in 'most earnest, constructive' atmosphere: Seoul official

WASHINGTON — A top policy aide to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that Seoul and Washington are engaging in trade negotiations in the "most earnest and constructive" atmosphere to date, as they hash out details of Korea's $350 billion investment commitment under a trade deal struck in July. Kim Yong-bum, the presidential chief of staff for policy, made the remarks upon arrival at an airport near Washington, amid growing speculation that South Korea and the United States have inched closer to an agreement to finalize the specifics of the trade deal. Kim, along with Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, arrived in the U.S. as Seoul steps up efforts to expedite negotiations with the U.S. "Taking stock of how (the negotiations) have so far been, we are at a juncture when the two countries are engaging in negotiations in the most earnest and constructive atmosphere," Kim told reporters upon arrival at Dulles International Airport. "(We) will do our utmost to ensure that negotiations will be wrapped up well in a direction that serves (Korea's) national interests," he added. AskeWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times