Acting President Han Duck-soo spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday in a 28-minute phone call, marking the first direct communication between the two leaders since Trump’s second term began in January. Local media reported that the conversation focused on strengthening the U.S.-South Korea alliance, trilateral cooperation with Japan, the North Korean nuclear issue, trade and economic cooperation and joint efforts in shipbuilding.

Trump described the call on his Truth Social account as focused on South Korea’s trade surplus, tariffs, large-scale purchase of U.S. liquefied natural gas, the Alaska pipeline project, and military cost-sharing. Trump claimed that South Korea began making military payments during his first term, a practice he said Biden later terminated. He also mentioned that South Korea’s top trade team, led by Trade Negotiation Minister Jeong In-kyo, is en route to the U.S. for further discussions.