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October 29, 2025 (Wednesday) – By Yeojun Jung
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in South Korea on October 29, 2025, marking the final leg of his Asia tour and aiming for a breakthrough in trade talks with China and South Korea.
Trump arrived in Gyeongju hours after North Korea launched a nuclear‑capable cruise missile, underscoring the complex security backdrop of his visit.
On October 28, 2025, North Korea test-fired multiple sea-to-surface cruise missiles from its western coast in the Yellow Sea. The missiles were launched vertically and flew for more than two hours along a predetermined trajectory.
The immediate agenda focuses on an unresolved deal with South Korea and a high‑stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is expected to influence global markets.
Upon arrival in Busan, Trump was greeted with full military honours and a South Korean band playing his favourite tune, reinforcing the ceremonial weight of his second visit to the country in six years.
The U.S. and South Korea remain locked in negotiations over a broad investment‑for‑tariff deal announced in July, under which Seoul pledged roughly $350 billion in U.S. investments.
In July 2025 the U.S. and South Korea agreed on a framework where South Korea pledged about US$350 billion in investments into U.S.-based assets and industries.
In return, the U.S. offered to reduce tariffs on South Korean exports (for example, lowering some auto-related tariffs from 25 % toward 15 %) as part of the trade-deal terms.
Talks over how to structure the commitment have stalled, leaving the full deal unresolved.
Trump called his forthcoming meeting with Xi a “very good outcome for our country and for the world,” signaling optimism ahead of talks in a time of heightened U.S.–China trade tension and global instability.
One example of this is the ongoing discussion over tariffs linked to fentanyl precursor chemicals: the White House hinted it could reduce 20 % U.S. levies on Chinese goods in exchange for Beijing restricting the export of those chemicals.
Security concerns also loom large. North Korea’s missile launch adds pressure to the summit’s defense dimension, as U.S. and South Korean forces remain on high alert for further provocation.
Earlier in his swing through Asia, Trump visited Japan and Malaysia.
In Tokyo, he met Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi and signed agreements on rare‑earth exports and trade, part of a larger U.S. push to deepen economic ties with regional allies.
In Kuala Lumpur, he cemented deals with Malaysian firms and oversaw the signing of a border‑peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia, moves insiders call part of a broader Indo‑Pacific strategic reset.
For South Korea, the stakes include both trade and defense.
Seoul has come under U.S. pressure to raise contribution levels for hosting U.S. troops and to reform its immigration policies to support Korea’s U.S.‑linked foreign investments, areas both governments say they will discuss in depth this week.
The APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju will provide Trump with a platform to deliver remarks, while bilateral meetings with several national leaders, including Xi, will aim to sealdeals before he departs.
Although no big headline agreement emerged yet, observers view the trip as a high‑profile diplomatic performance for Trump.
His tour reinforced the U.S. intent to reset alliances and economic ties across Southeast and East Asia.
As markets react and alliances recalibrate, the real test will come in the hours ahead, particularly when Trump and Xi sit down for their high‑stakes meeting on Thursday.
Their discussions could influence global trade flows, technology supply chains, and the strategic balance in the Indo‑Pacific.
