Trump Threatens Higher Costs for South Korea over Alaska LNG Project
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose higher costs on South Korea if it doesn't agree to invest in an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The project involves constructing a pipeline from the North Slope to southern Alaska, with the goal of transporting natural gas to Asia.
Trump made the remarks during a press conference at the White House, two days after unveiling a package of Korea's US investment projects under last year's bilateral trade deal.
The deal includes the LNG project, as well as construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas and eight large-scale nuclear power plants. However, Seoul has yet to finalize its decision on whether to participate in the LNG project.
Trump stated that if South Korea doesn't sign up for the project, he will 'charge them more.' When asked if they had signed the deal, Trump replied, 'Tell them if they don't sign shortly, I'm going to double it up.'