Washington: South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will visit Washington next week to engage in discussions with senior U.S. officials, multiple sources revealed on Tuesday. This visit comes as both countries focus on implementing the measures agreed upon during the summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in late October.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Wi Sung-lac is scheduled to begin his visit to the U.S. capital on Tuesday. During his visit, he is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as the national security adviser. This visit follows the November 13 release of a joint fact sheet detailing trade and security agreements made during the second summit between Lee and Trump in Gyeongju, South Korea, ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The presidential National Security Office in Seoul has established three task force teams to conduct working-level consultations with the U.S. These consultations will focus on agreements related to South Korea's initiatives to develop nuclear-powered submarines, secure peaceful uranium enrichment capabilities, and address its defense budget. The fact sheet includes the U.S.' approval for South Korea to construct nuclear-powered submarines, support for Seoul's uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, and Seoul's commitment to increasing defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP.
During his discussions with U.S. officials, Wi is also expected to address cooperative efforts concerning North Korea policy. Both Seoul and Washington have expressed interest in resuming dialogue with Pyongyang. However, it remains uncertain if North Korea will engage in dialogue, given its current reliance on Russia for essential resources and its strengthened ties with China.
Wi's visit follows the White House's release of a new National Security Strategy, which notably omits any mention of North Korea. This development has fueled speculation that the security challenges posed by Pyongyang might be deprioritized. The strategy, unveiled last week, highlights the Trump administration's focus on "burden-sharing" and "burden-shifting" with allies, while emphasizing American influence in the Western Hemisphere and efforts to deter conflict over Taiwan.