All Three Chiefs?Kang Hoonshik, Kim Yongbeom, and Wi Sunglak?to Accompany President Lee on U.S. Visit

Wi Says "Chief Kang Has a Separate Consultation Schedule"
Will Not Accompany the Delegation to Japan

Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik will accompany President Lee Jaemyung on his visit to the United States.

Yonhap News

On the 22nd, National Security Advisor Wi Sunglak held a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office and announced that all three chiefs-themselves, Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom, and Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik-will be traveling to the United States. This is an unusual situation where all three chiefs will be absent from the presidential office at the same time.

Wi stated, "Chief Kang will not accompany the delegation to Japan and will only go to the United States," adding, "He has a separate schedule for consultations in the U.S." When asked for further details, Wi responded, "There will be an opportunity to explain later."

Some have speculated that, because Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun is not joining the President for the Japan visit and is heading directly to the United States, there may be difficulties in the U.S.-Korea summit negotiations. In response, Wi dismissed these concerns, saying, "Minister Cho had originally planned to go to the United States first," and, "This is for a final review and coordination of the agenda."

However, Wi acknowledged that the negotiations with the United States are more challenging than those with Japan. He explained, "There are no urgent issues requiring tight coordination with Japan, but with the United States, there are new challenges in the fields of economy, trade, and security." He added, "The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Chief Trade Negotiator are also in the United States. The ministers are conducting final checks to ensure the success of the summit."

When asked whether there was a problem with the agricultural agenda that had been excluded from previous reciprocal tariff negotiations, Wi replied, "That is not the case." However, when asked if agricultural issues could be discussed at the summit, he said, "There has not been any significant progress in the negotiations," and clarified, "It is true that the United States has raised additional agricultural issues, but we are maintaining our position that this is not possible."