U.S. President Donald Trump warned South Korea on Friday that he could double what it pays if Seoul does not soon agree to invest in a $50 billion liquefied natural gas project in Alaska. He did not say which costs he meant, leaving unclear whether the threat concerned tariffs or another charge. South Korea has not committed to the project and says it is assessing whether participation is commercially viable and legally permissible.
A threat without a defined charge
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said South Korea could decline the investment, but would then be charged more. He added that if the country did not sign shortly, he would “double it up.” The remarks put pressure on Seoul without identifying a specific fee, tariff or other measure that would rise.
Trump’s warning follows his public announcement of South Korean participation in the Alaska LNG project. Asked whether he had announced the commitment prematurely, he said he had not. The gap between that assertion and Seoul’s position makes the status of the proposed investment central to the dispute.
Seoul says the project is under review
South Korea’s government says it is still examining the Alaska project. Any participation depends on its commercial viability and compliance with domestic legal procedures, so the government has not made a final decision to invest.
That position leaves the proposed deal short of a confirmed commitment, despite Trump’s claim that South Korea would take part. The immediate question is whether the two governments can resolve the difference between Washington’s public expectation and Seoul’s stated review process before any agreement is signed.
The $50 billion project at the centre
The Alaska LNG development is valued at $50 billion, making it a major proposed energy and infrastructure investment. For South Korea, the commercial assessment is a condition of participation; the available material does not specify the size of any Korean contribution or the project’s precise terms.
The dispute also touches on a broader disagreement over South Korean energy and infrastructure investment in the United States. Trump has announced projects that Seoul says are not yet finalised. That pattern raises the stakes for both sides: public announcements can suggest commitments before South Korea’s review and approval procedures are complete.
A separate $8.4 billion oil project
Trump also wrote on Truth Social on Friday that South Korea’s investment deal was improving and announced an additional enhanced oil recovery project valued at $8.4 billion. Enhanced oil recovery uses methods such as injecting carbon dioxide to increase the amount of crude oil extracted from an oil field.
South Korean local media reported that the oil project was not included in agreements reached by Seoul and Washington, citing the country’s industry ministry. The ministry was seeking to verify Trump’s announcement and had contacted the United States through trade channels for clarification. That response underscores that the latest announcement, like the LNG proposal, is not confirmed as an agreed South Korean investment.
What remains unresolved
Trump did not explain what he would double, and the available information does not establish whether he has authority to raise tariffs on South Korean goods unilaterally. South Korean local media raised higher tariffs as one possible interpretation, but that remains unconfirmed; no specific tariff rate or other charge was stated.
For now, the concrete figures are the $50 billion Alaska LNG project and the separately announced $8.4 billion oil recovery project, while Seoul’s decision on participation remains pending. The next substantive development would be clarification of the proposed terms and of what costs Trump’s warning refers to.
Takeaway: Trump has threatened to double unspecified costs if South Korea does not sign soon, but Seoul has yet to approve either investment as a final commitment.
References
- en.tempo.co — “Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs if S. Korea Rejects Alaska LNG Deal – ASEAN & Beyond En.tempo.co”
- Yonhap News Agency — “(LEAD) Trump threatens to 'charge' S. Korea 'more' if it rejects Alaska LNG project”
- world.kbs.co.kr — “Trump Threatens to 'Charge More' if S. Korea Doesn't Agree to Invest in Alaska LNG Project l KBS WORLD”
- UA.NEWS — “Trump threatens Seoul with higher costs over Alaska LNG”
- biz.chosun.com — “Trump threatens to double charge if Korea rejects Alaska LNG investment – CHOSUNBIZ”
