Trump Threatens Higher Charges if S. Korea Rejects Alaska LNG Project
US President Donald Trump has threatened to charge South Korea more if it doesn't agree to invest in an Alaska LNG project. The project, which involves a 1,298-kilometer-long pipeline from the North Slope to southern Alaska, would transport natural gas cooled into liquid form for shipments to Asia.
Trump made the remarks during a press availability at the White House, where he also unveiled the first package of Korea's US investment projects under last year's bilateral trade deal. The package includes the LNG project, as well as the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas and eight large-scale nuclear power plants.
Seoul has not yet finalized its decision on whether to participate in the LNG project, with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stating that South Korea will invest over $50 billion in the project. Trump seemed unfazed by Seoul's hesitation, saying 'I didn't jump the gun. I mean, they were there and they were represented.'
'And let's see, if they don't want to do it, that's okay with me. I'll just charge them more,' Trump said.