Remarks by US President Donald Trump criticizing delays in South Korea’s legislative process and warning of renewed tariff hikes sparked debate in Seoul on Tuesday over whether a line has been crossed by directly pressuring Korea’s legislature.
Observers warn the move departs from diplomatic norms and risks straining alliance trust.
Heo Yoon, professor of international trade at the Graduate School of International Studies at Sogang University, said Trump’s comments amounted to an abrupt and unconventional intervention in Korea’s domestic legislative process.
“Unilaterally attempting to overturn agreements that took a long time to negotiate through a social media post is not only a breach of trust between states, but also extremely difficult to understand diplomatically,” Heo said.
“At a time when the US urgently needs cooperation from its allies to contain China, pressuring South Korea — a key ally in Northeast Asia — can be seen as a serious provocation,” he added.
In a social media post, Trump di
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