Seoul: South Korea and the United States may reach a deal on key security issues, potentially including higher defense spending and eased restrictions on spent nuclear fuel processing, ahead of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this month, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has said. The minister made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency the previous day, as the Lee Jae Myung administration has been seeking to seal a deal with the Trump administration, linking tariff negotiations with security issues, including U.S. demands for higher defense spending.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee held a summit with President Donald Trump in late August in Washington and delved into those issues, but no formal written agreement has been issued yet. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts by both nations to strengthen security ties and address complex issues related to defense contributions and nuclear fuel processing. The potential agreement is seen as a strategic move to enhance cooperation while addressing mutual concerns in the region.