President Donald Trump said Friday that South Korea faces higher costs if it does not quickly sign onto a $50 billion Alaska LNG project, telling reporters "I'll just charge them more" and threatening to "double it up" if Seoul does not commit soon.
Trump did not specify what would be doubled. South Korean media reported the possibility that he was referring to higher tariffs on the country.
The remarks highlight a disconnect between Washington and Seoul over energy and infrastructure investments. Trump has announced South Korean participation in projects that Seoul says remain under assessment. When asked whether he had announced South Korea's involvement prematurely, Trump said he "didn't jump the gun."
South Korea stated it is still evaluating the Alaska LNG project. Any participation depends on commercial viability and compliance with domestic legal procedures, according to the country's government.
Trump also announced Friday on Truth Social an additional $8.4 billion enhanced oil recovery project as part of South Korea's investment package. Enhanced oil recovery uses techniques such as carbon dioxide injection to increase crude oil production from an oil field.
South Korean local media reported that the oil recovery project was not included in agreements already reached between Seoul and Washington. South Korea's industry ministry said it was seeking to verify Trump's announcement and contacted the U.S. through trade channels for clarification, according to the reports.
The Alaska LNG project would represent a major energy infrastructure investment. Trump's framing of the deal as a take-it-or-pay-more proposition differs from South Korea's more cautious approach to finalizing the commitments.