Office of the President: "Customs Negotiation Fact Sheet Nearly Complete... Awaiting Security Section" [Gyeongju APEC]

Yonhap News Agency

The Office of the President announced on October 31 that the preparation of a "fact sheet" detailing the results of the South Korea-U.S. customs negotiations is nearly complete. However, it explained that the security section is taking a bit more time, and they are currently waiting for it to be finalized.

Kim Yongbeom, Policy Chief of the Office of the President, stated during a briefing at the Gyeongju International Media Center on October 31, in response to a question about whether the customs negotiation fact sheet would be completed over the weekend, "The joint fact sheet on investment and trade has been almost finalized between the South Korean and U.S. authorities."

However, Chief Kim added, "We are also working on the fact sheet for the security sector," and explained, "South Korea and the United States are coordinating the wording for the security section." He further clarified, "We are currently waiting for the security section to be completed."

Chief Kim stated, "Ideally, it would be best to announce both customs and security together," and added, "Since all of these topics were addressed at the summit, both South Korea and the United States hope to issue a joint fact sheet that covers security, investment, and trade all at once."

Meanwhile, Chief Kim commented on a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump claiming that South Korea's 'nuclear-powered submarine' would be built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in the United States, saying, "I am not aware of such information."