Chargé d'Affaires Marc Knapper of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea has doubled since their free trade agreement went into effect and this needs fixing.
 
In a speech at an economic forum in Seoul on Monday, Knapper said the KORUS FTA is an important symbol of the two nations’ economic link, but the seriousness of the U.S. deficit cannot be overlooked.
 
He hoped the two sides can find a solution to make the trade relationship fair and balanced. 

He added that the Seoul-Washington alliance is a linchpin of U.S. diplomatic and security policies in the Asia Pacific region. He said the U.S. commitment to the alliance remains strong and he believes that President Donald Trump will deliver an identical message when he visits Seoul next month.
 
He said the U.S. administration is clearly talking about a peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and that Washington is trying to exert maximum pressure against the North.