01 July, 2017
National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn asked South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday for help in working with China.
Mr Moon told reporters that his discussions with Mr Trump have been a great opportunity to further the trust between him and the U.S. leader.
In regard to the issues of North Korea and its nuclear program, the Ministry said that the two diplomats "agreed to work closely together to elaborate their joint strategy for addressing the North Korean nuclear program as South Korea and the United States firmly hold to their common goal of the denuclearization of North Korea".
And while he avoided criticizing his guest's approach, Trump made clear he was in no mood to enter dialogue with North Korea but rather saw sanctions as the best way to proceed.
As for North Korea, Washington and Seoul agree on the end goal of getting Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons, a view expected to be reflected in the joint statement to be issued after Moon's visit.
Along with a $1 billion arms deal with Taiwan, the sanctions are seen as a message to Beijing from the Trump administration, which wants to see China increase pressure on North Korea.
The tweet, sent shortly after the end of the dinner, set off confusion among government officials and business leaders in Seoul about the U.S.'s commitment to the five-year-old trade pact, which Mr. Trump has lambasted as "a disgusting deal".
"We can't repeat the same failed approach of the past", he added.
Mr Moon said the North Korea issue was a top priority during the talks, stressing that "only strong security can bring about genuine peace" in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We are renegotiating a trade deal right now as we speak with South Korea, and, hopefully, it will be an equitable deal, a fair deal for both parties", he told reporters.
"Discussions between the two heads of state were very frank and serious, and many issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula were discussed", Yoon told a press briefing.
Moon, making his first trip to the United States since becoming his country's president in May, joined Trump and his wife, Melania, for dinner in the White House State Dining Room on Thursday evening ahead of further talks on Friday.
"South Korea has one of the longest-running trade partnerships with Alaska, so it was an honor to discuss opportunities to deepen those ties with newly-elected President Moon", Governor Walker said. "On this occasion, the USA and President Trump's firm resolve for the alliance is noted with great appreciation". Trump and Moon will probably talk about the U.S. counterattack system THAAD, whose posting in South Korea is postponed until the end of the environmental impact audit.
