Washington: The highly publicized trade and security pact between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, hailed as a landmark in bilateral relations, has hit a major obstacle. Despite being announced with fanfare two weeks ago, the agreement remains unsigned, with officials citing unresolved issues surrounding South Korea’s bid to build nuclear-powered submarines as the main sticking point.

The Trump–Lee summit was initially celebrated as a turning point in U.S.–South Korea relations. The proposed deal aimed to merge economic and defense cooperation into a single framework, promising reduced U.S. tariffs in exchange for massive South Korean investments across American industries. Reports suggested Seoul was ready to invest over $350 billion in U.S. project

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