The ministry said Kim will travel to Ottawa and Washington from Tuesday through May 8 (local time) for meetings aimed at strengthening partnership on economic and industrial cooperation. The trip comes about two months after he visited the United States in early March to discuss trade issues.
In Washington, Kim is set to hold preliminary consultations on strategic investment with senior U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, on Wednesday. He also plans outreach to Congress and others on U.S.-bound investment and trade issues.
The visit has fueled expectations that a decision on the first U.S. investment project could be nearing. Kim told reporters on April 27, however, that the project was still under discussion and that it was difficult to predict a specific timeline.
Before heading to the United States, Kim will be in Ottawa on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with Canadian officials, including Melanie Joly, described by the ministry as industry minister, and Tim, described as the minister of energy and natural resources. The ministry said Kim is expected to seek support for South Korea’s bid in Canada’s submarine program and to discuss ways to expand cooperation in industry and resources.
Kim said follow-up steps after the passage in March of a special law on U.S. investment — including drafting enforcement rules and preparing to launch a related corporation — were being carried out without disruption. He said he plans to move forward with more detailed preliminary consultations on strategic investment projects based on ongoing communication.
He added that the government would proceed in a way that serves the national interest, including expanding market access for South Korean companies and ensuring benefits flow back to domestic industry.
On the Canada trip, Kim said the submarine project could be an important opportunity to build a broad, long-term partnership spanning security, the economy and industry, and pledged full government support through the end to help win the contract.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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