Trump: "Korea is in a purge or revolution situation... We can't do business there"

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that it appears a purge or revolution is happening in Korea.
President Trump said, in such a situation, "We cannot accept it, and we cannot do business there."
Trump's remarks suggest that the ongoing rebellion special prosecutor investigation and uncertainties in Korea could affect Korea-U.S. trade and security consultations.

Donald Trump, President of the United States, stated on the 25th (local time), about three hours before the South Korea-U.S. summit, that it seems like a "purge or revolution" is happening in Korea.

President Trump, in a post on the social networking service (SNS) Truth Social, wrote, "What is going on in Korea?" and commented, "It looks like a purge or revolution." He continued, "We cannot accept it, and we can't do business there."

President Trump added, "I'm meeting the new President (President Lee Jae-myung) today at the White House," and expressed, "Thank you for your interest in this issue."

The mention of 'purge' or 'revolution' appears to refer to the investigation into the rebellion special prosecutor in South Korea and the investigations and trials involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol and others.

Although President Trump did not specify particular situations, there is speculation that this reflects possible discord in the process of coordinating opinions between the two countries on trade and security matters up till the last moments of the talks.

Reporter Choi Mansu bebop@hankyung.com