Overview

• The first in-person summit between President Lee and President Trump is scheduled for around August 25, marking Lee’s inaugural face-to-face meeting since taking office in June.
• South Korea secured a reciprocal 15 percent tariff on its exports, matching Japan’s rate, but Trump’s 100 percent semiconductor levy threat leaves chipmakers unsettled.
• President Trump is expected to press Seoul to boost its share of the roughly $3 billion annual cost to support 28,500 US troops in South Korea beyond the current half contribution.
• North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, estimated at up to 100 warheads capable of striking the US mainland, remains unchecked with no inspectors on the ground or active disarmament talks.
• Seoul is intensifying efforts to build deeper diplomatic networks in Washington, aiming to secure broader alliance backing beyond summit diplomacy.