Hong Hyun-ik: "Trump Determined to Negotiate...Nuclear Sub Approval a Triumph"
Hong Hyun-ik: "Trump Determined to Negotiate...Nuclear Sub Approval a Triumph"
Former Korea National Diplomatic Academy President Hong Hyun-ik appeared on KBS 1Radio's 'In-Depth Analysis' to offer his analysis of the recent South Korea-U.S. summit. On the October 30, 2025 broadcast, Hong provided in-depth opinions on U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea and the agreements reached between the two countries. He noted that President Trump appeared to have visited South Korea with the intention of finalizing a deal, and that, while not entirely satisfactory, it was ultimately a successful negotiation. Hong particularly cited the U.S. approval of South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines as a major achievement, which is expected to be a significant step in strengthening South Korea's security capabilities.
The South Korea-U.S. summit took place during President Trump's state visit to South Korea, coinciding with his attendance at the APEC summit. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung awarded President Trump the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, reaffirming the strong alliance between the two countries. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including the economy and security, and, in particular, agreed to create an investment fund for the U.S., laying the foundation for practical economic cooperation.
Through this summit, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to establish a $350 billion investment fund for the U.S. The fund will consist of $200 billion in cash investment and $150 billion in shipbuilding cooperation. The cash investment will have an annual investment cap of $20 billion to ensure stable management of the investment scale. In addition, the two countries agreed to share the profits generated from the investment fund on a 50:50 basis, ensuring fair profit distribution. This large-scale investment fund is expected to contribute to both the revitalization of U.S. manufacturing and South Korea's economic growth. In particular, shipbuilding cooperation is expected to create synergy by promoting technological exchange and joint research and development between the two countries.
Meanwhile, in the diplomatic sphere, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun visited Beijing last September and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It is expected that the meeting focused on discussions regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to South Korea on the occasion of the APEC summit. This can be interpreted as part of diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula. In addition, concerns have been raised about future changes in U.S. trade policy, as President Trump has previously mentioned the possibility of applying higher tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals than on automobiles. Joseph Yun, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in South Korea, stated that the South Korean and U.S. leaders will meet at the APEC summit in Gyeongju next month, suggesting the possibility of further discussions between the two countries.
These diplomatic efforts and strengthened economic cooperation are expected to play an important role in South Korea's efforts to maintain balanced diplomatic relations in Northeast Asia and pursue economic prosperity. In particular, the approval for the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, as mentioned by former Director Hong Hyun-ik, is expected to contribute to further strengthening South Korea's security capabilities, which can be interpreted as a positive sign for regional stability. However, the protectionist policies of President Trump and the trade conflict between the U.S. and China still pose uncertainties to the South Korean economy, and this should not be overlooked.
