SEOUL - U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday agreed to peacefully resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula and swiftly push negotiations for a fair free trade deal between the two countries.
President Moon told a joint press conference with the U.S. leader after a bilateral meeting in the presidential residence that they reached an agreement to peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and to settle a permanent peace regime on the peninsula.
The U.S. president told the press conference that he did not wish to use force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), urging the Asian country to return to a dialogue table and make a deal benefiting both Pyongyang and the entire world.
Asked about whether to accept a direct dialogue offer from the DPRK, Trump declined to comment on it.
Trump took issue with the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, called KORUS FTA, telling the press conference that the current free trade pact with South Korea was "unsuccessful and not very good for the United States."
However, he said he was "confident" that the two sides will be able to reach a "free, fair and reciprocal" trade deal.
Moon told reporters that he and Trump agreed to rapidly push for negotiations on the KORUS FTA to enjoy benefits from a "free, fair and balanced" trade. (Xinhua)