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Wi Seong-rak, director of South Korea’s National Security Office, departs for Washington, D.C. through Incheon International Airport on July 6 to discuss tariffs, a potential summit, and other bilateral issues. / Source: Yonhap News

National Security Advisor Wi Seong-rak held talks with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. on July 7 to discuss adjustments to the ongoing tariff negotiations and President Lee Jae-myung’s potential visit to the United States.

According to the presidential office on July 8, Wi and Rubio met for a high-level security consultation between the two allies, during which they held in-depth discussions on advancing the bilateral relationship, including senior-level exchanges.

Of particular note, the meeting followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to delay the start of reciprocal tariffs from the initially announced July 9 to August 1. The presidential office said the U.S. side explained that while letters regarding the tariff hikes were sent out to key partners, including South Korea, there remains time before the August 1 implementation date. “The U.S. expressed hope that both sides will maintain close communication to reach an agreement by then,” the office stated, interpreting it as a willingness to continue negotiations rather than immediately enforcing the 25% tariff.

Working-level preparations for a potential Korea-U.S. summit are also taking shape. The presidential office said, “Our side expressed the hope of holding a summit soon to advance mutually beneficial outcomes across key issues, and the U.S. side shared this view.”

Regarding bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector, both sides agreed that “it is critical to mobilize capabilities across government and industry to derive practical and mutually beneficial cooperation,” and committed to continued coordination in this area.

The Korean side also emphasized the need to approach negotiations based on the spirit of alliance, saying, “We hope to strengthen the alliance further through broader cooperation, and look forward to close coordination between the two national security advisors.”