Seoul, Washington agree to 'speed up' implementation of bilateral agreements

Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s national security adviser — National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Dec. 16, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Some progress appeared to have been made in follow-up talks on the comprehensive joint fact sheet signed between Seoul and Washington last month, which outlines agreements on bilateral trade and security.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lak, who met with key U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright earlier this week, reportedly said the two countries agreed to speed up the implementation of the bilateral agreement, although he did not elaborate.

Along with reciprocal tariff-related deals, Seoul and Washington reached a broader agreement in late October that included a U.S. commitment to support the construction of nuclear submarines using U.S.-supplied fuel, the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and uranium enrichment.

Wi is set to travel from Washington, D.C., to New York before returning home.

While in New York, he is scheduled to meet with senior United Nations officials to discuss security-related issues on the Korean Peninsula.

Park Hee-won heewonb@ajunews.com