▲ Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Eui-hae (R) poses with Michael DeSombre, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affaris, ahead of their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
▲ Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Eui-hae (2nd from R) holds a meeting with Michael DeSombre (4th from L), U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, at the foreign ministry in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) S Korea-US-diplomacy

(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. agree on need to carry out joint summit agreements in 'balanced' manner: Seoul official

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout; CHANGES photo)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States agreed Thursday on the need to work together to ensure that their joint summit agreements on trade and security will be implemented in a "balanced" manner, rather than prioritizing certain areas, a Seoul official said.

A senior foreign ministry official made the remarks following the meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Eui-hae and Michael DeSombre, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

DeSombre, who took office as the top diplomat for East Asia policy in October last year, was visiting South Korea on his first official trip in the current capacity.

"We shared the view that while not all elements (in the agreements) can move forward at exactly the same pace, they should be implemented in a balanced manner, mutually propelling each other and broadly keeping pace," the official told reporters.

"(We shared the understanding that) it would not be desirable for the process to appear skewed to one side or for any single element to be seen as holding up the overall implementation," she said.

The agreements include a range of commitments from both sides, such as Seoul's US$350 billion investment package for the U.S. in exchange for a reduced U.S. tariff rate, and U.S. support for South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities for peaceful use.

While the Trump administration has urged Seoul to speed up the process for its investment pledge, South Korea has been seeking to make progress in the security-related part of the agreements, particularly regarding the nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear energy cooperation.

Implementing the agreements has since experienced setbacks amid delays in Seoul's legislative process required to move the deal forward, with a growing view that U.S. involvement in the Middle East conflict may also be affecting the process.

On Thursday, the National Assembly passed the special bill for the U.S. investment at a plenary session, a move expected to help accelerate the implementation.

"The priority should be to ensure the overall implementation proceeds smoothly and that both sides should work together to quickly identify and troubleshoot any potential bottlenecks that may arise," the official said.

At Thursday's meeting, Chung called for DeSombre's active engagement and role to ensure that the security-related commitments in the joint fact sheet, which outlines the summit agreements, yield early results, the ministry said in a press readout.

DeSombre agreed and said he would work to advance consultations in the security field, according to the ministry.

"We also shared a positive note on the passage of the U.S. investment bill and agreed to swiftly implement the agreements. There was also discussion about working together to ensure that (negotiations) on the 123 Agreement will promptly move forward," the official said, referring to the existing bilateral pact on Seoul's peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Following the meeting with Chung, DeSombre met separately with Park Jong-han, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs.

At the meeting, Park emphasized that the U.S. launch an investigation into South Korea and other countries over manufacturing overcapacity, under Section 301 of the Trade Act, should proceed fairly, the ministry said.

DeSombre was later set to hold another meeting with Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence overseeing North Korea issues.

His visit also came ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's expected trip to China in late March and early April amid speculation that Trump could seek to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who has left open the possibility of resuming dialogue on the condition that the U.S. drops its hostile policy against Pyongyang.

DeSombre arrived in Seoul from Tokyo on Wednesday for a five-day trip, the second leg of his swing through Asia that also includes a stop in Mongolia.

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