WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 30: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he is joined by (L-R) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan (R-AK), U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House on September 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. The joint announcement unveiled a major $54 billion South Korean investment that includes the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump said he “didn’t jump the gun” in announcing South Korea’s participation in a $50 billion Alaska liquefied natural gas project, warning Seoul could pay “double” if it does not sign on soon.
His remarks come amid a discrepancy between Washington and Seoul over South Korea’s planned energy and infrastructure investments in the U.S., with Trump announcing projects that Seoul has said are not yet finalized.
“If they don’t want to do it, that’s OK with me. I’ll just charge them more,” Trump told reporters Friday, according to the White House. “Tell them if they don’t sign shortly, I’m going to double it up.”
Trump did not specify what would be doubled. South Korean local media, though, raised the possibility that he was referring to higher tariffs on the country.
When asked whether he had prematurely announced South Korea’s involvement in the Alaska LNG project, Trump said he “didn’t jump the gun.”
Trump’s remarks come after South Korea said it was still assessing the Alaska LNG project, with any participation dependent on its commercial viability and compliance with domestic legal procedures.
Separately, Trump said Friday on Truth Social that South Korea’s investment deal “keeps getting BETTER,” announcing an additional $8.4 billion enhanced oil recovery project.
Enhanced oil recovery uses techniques such as carbon dioxide injection to increase the amount of crude produced from an oil field.
South Korean local media further reported that the oil recovery project was not included in the agreements reached between Seoul and Washington, citing the country’s Industry Ministry. The ministry was seeking to verify Trump’s announcement and had contacted the U.S. through trade channels for clarification, according to the report.
