South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will visit Washington next week, starting as early as Tuesday, to hold talks with senior U.S. officials on follow-up measures from the recent summit. He is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser. The discussions will focus on implementing trade and security agreements outlined in a joint fact sheet released on November 13.
South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will travel to Washington next week to discuss follow-up measures from the late October summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources. His visit begins on Tuesday, during which he is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser. This trip follows the November 13 release of a joint fact sheet detailing trade and security agreements finalized at the allies' second summit in Gyeongju on October 29, ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The fact sheet codifies the U.S. approval for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines, support for Seoul's pursuit of peaceful uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, and South Korea's pledge to raise defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product. Seoul's Presidential National Security Office has established three task force teams to conduct working-level consultations with the U.S. on these summit agreements related to nuclear submarines, uranium enrichment, and defense budget increases.
Wi is also anticipated to address cooperation on North Korea policy during the talks. Both Seoul and Washington have voiced interest in resuming dialogue with Pyongyang, though uncertainty persists given the regime's reliance on Russia for food, fuel, and other essentials amid strengthening ties with China. The visit comes after the White House issued a new National Security Strategy last week that omits any reference to North Korea, sparking speculation that the Pyongyang challenge may be deprioritized. The strategy emphasizes 'burden-sharing' and 'burden-shifting' with allies, reasserting U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere and deterring conflict over Taiwan, among other priorities.