(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump’s diplomatic tour through Asia continued Wednesday as he met with South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Trump sought to secure $350 billion in South Korean investments, hot on the heels of deals of similar value from his previous stops in Malaysia and Japan.
Trump said a deal with South Korea was “pretty much finalized,” though neither government has confirmed the details of an agreement.
Trump extends friendly hand to Xi in fraught relationship with China
In lieu of a confirmed deal, Trump so far has received a replica gold crown and the country’s highest medal. The two presidents proclaimed a new golden age between their countries.
Trump on Wednesday also confirmed he would not extend his tour of Asia with a visit to North Korea.
North Korea on Wednesday said it conducted successful cruise missile tests, which Trump seemingly dismissed when asked about the military activity: “He’s been launching missiles for decades, right?”
Trump, Xi to meet in South Korea on Thursday
South Korea and the APEC summit serve as a backdrop for a highly anticipated meeting Thursday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It will be the first face-to-face between the two leaders since Trump began his second term — and slapped Beijing with hefty tariffs, resulting in an ongoing trade war.
Tariffs, trade and TikTok are expected to be the focuses of the meeting, which comes following news of a framework for a trade deal between the U.S. and China.
The deal may also involve China resuming the purchase of soybeans from U.S. farmers after trade disputes disrupted the once-solid relationship.
NewsNation’s Anna Kutz and Tom Dempsey contributed to this report.
