SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's trade ministry said on Wednesday that the country also had a playing card to annul the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) just as the United States had.
According to a written reply to a lawmaker of the centrist People's Party who serves on the parliamentary committee of trade, industry, energy and small and venture companies, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it always kept in mind the point that the annulment is not a unilateral negotiating card, but a card both nations have.
The written answer was delivered to the opposition lawmaker ahead of the parliamentary inspection of the ministry scheduled for Friday.
The ministry said it would not be unilaterally dragged by the U.S. side if Washington wants irrational demand while threatening an annulment.
The strong stance came after the second special session of the Joint Committee under the KORUS FTA was held in Washington last week.
After the special session, the South Korean trade ministry said in a statement that the two sides shared the need for a revised KORUS FTA to strengthen mutual benefits, indicating an actual launch of the amendment negotiations.
During the first special session held in Seoul in August, the two sides reached no agreement.
The FTA special session was requested by the United States on July 12 to address what Washington called a significant trade imbalance through possible "amendments" and "modifications."
U.S. President Donald Trump described the KORUS FTA as a "horrible deal," vowing to put things right by "renegotiating" the free trade deal.
