Trump Says Japan-South Korea Dispute Putting US in 'Bad Position'

President Donald Trump urged Japan and South Korea to settle their trade dispute and said it is putting the U.S. “in a very bad position.”

“I hope that South Korea and I hope that Japan will start getting along with each other. You know, they're supposed to be allies,” Trump said while speaking to reporters Aug. 9. “It puts us in a very difficult decision. South Korea and Japan are fighting all the time.”

The two countries’ dispute stems from Japan’s July 1 decision to add export restrictions to certain products to South Korea. Trump’s comments came about a week after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Japan and South Korea in an effort to ease trade tensions (see 1907310041) and days after a senior State Department official said the U.S. may help negotiations (see 1908070072).