Seoul [South Korea], October 29 (ANI): US President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Wednesday ahead of high-stakes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
After departing Tokyo aboard Air Force One earlier in the day, Trump landed at Gimhae International Airport in the southeastern city of Busan. Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor, shared a video on X showing two Korean and two US F-16 fighter jets escorting Air Force One into South Korean airspace.
This marks the US President’s first Asia tour in his second term and comes as Washington focuses on securing new trade and investment agreements. According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump will meet President Lee in Gyeongju later on Wednesday for their second summit in about two months.
All eyes are on the visit to see whether the framework for a trade deal reached in July will be finalized. Yonhap reported that the proposed deal calls for South Korea to invest USD 350 billion in the United States in exchange for Washington lowering its “reciprocal” tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent. However, the agreement has not yet taken effect due to unresolved details regarding the investment package.
Trump’s visit to South Korea is being closely watched as he is set to hold a highly anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday — their first meeting since 2019.
Yonhap also noted that while Trump has repeatedly expressed openness to reengaging North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, even suggesting an extended stay in South Korea to facilitate dialogue, Pyongyang has yet to respond.
Instead, North Korea announced on Wednesday that it had test-fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea the previous day, just ahead of Trump’s arrival for the APEC summit, Yonhap reported. (ANI)
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