South Korea's free trade agreement with the United States could help mitigate its exposure to reciprocal tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, economists at two major investment banks have said.

South Korea’s top economic think tank slashed its growth forecast for the country’s economy for the second time in four months on Tuesday, expressing concern about the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s expanding tariffs.

He said, however, the tariffs may offer opportunities for Korean companies to find new export markets. South Korea will "actively consider" whether there is room for negotiation on the tariffs with the United States,

North Korea has accused the US of engaging in a "hostile military act" and posing a "grave security threat" to the country by sending a nuclear submarine to a South Korean port. The USS Alexandria entered the Busan port on Monday for supplies and rest for its crew,

A US Navy submarine docked at a naval base in South Korea on Monday, purportedly to replenish supplies—drawing a strong reaction from North Korea, which labeled the act an "undeniable threat." "We express grave concern over the US dangerous hostile military act,