Washington: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will visit the United States this week to meet with senior U.S. officials and lawmakers, as announced by his office on Wednesday. The visit includes a potential meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim's itinerary from Thursday to Monday will cover Washington and New York, marking his first overseas trip as prime minister. The visit will also provide an opportunity for Kim to engage with Korean residents in the U.S.

Sources indicate that discussions with Vice President Vance are being planned, focusing on ongoing tariff and trade issues. In a previous agreement reached in November, the U.S. committed to lowering "reciprocal" tariffs on South Korean goods to 15 percent, while South Korea agreed to invest US$350 billion in the U.S.

However, a new issue has arisen following the U.S. announcement to impose additional tariffs on memory chip makers not building facilities within the country, posing further challenges for South Korean semiconductor firms.

The solo visit by Prime Minister Kim to address bilateral concerns is unusual, suggesting an urgent need to address these uncertainties. "This visit is expected to positively contribute to the stable maintenance and strengthening of South Korea-U.S. relations," his office stated in a press release.