Trump tells South Korea to sign on to Alaska LNG deal or ‘I’ll just charge them more’

Title: Trump tells South Korea to sign on to Alaska LNG deal or 'I'll just charge them more'

URL Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/05/trump-alaska-lng-south-korea-pay.html

Published Time: 2026-10-05T00:47:47+0000

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Trump tells South Korea to sign on to Alaska LNG deal or ‘I’ll just charge them more’

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Trump tells South Korea to sign on to Alaska LNG deal or ‘I’ll just charge them more’

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Trump tells South Korea to sign on to Alaska LNG deal or ‘I’ll just charge them more’

Published Sun, Oct 4 2026 8:47 PM EDT


[Jenny Lee](https://www.cnbc.com/jenny-lee/)[@in/jenny-lee-102020a8](https://linkedin.com/in/jenny-lee-102020a8)

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Key Points

• Trump said if South Korea does not sign on to the $50 billion Alaska LNG project he will charge them more or “double it up,” without specifying what would be doubled.

• South Korea has said it is still assessing the Alaska project, with participation dependent on commercial viability and compliance with domestic legal procedures.

• Trump also announced an $8.4 billion oil recovery project that South Korean local media reported was not part of the countries’ agreement, citing Seoul’s industry ministry.


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 LNG 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](https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-gaggles-with-press-upon-departure-from-the-white-house-oct-2-2026/) 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](https://www.chosun.com/international/us/2026/10/03/RIAJLMEC65HFTE2JUYEIMLAGS4/) 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](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/01/trump-south-korea-investment-alaska-lng-nuclear-power.html) the Alaska LNG project, with any participation dependent on its commercial viability and compliance with domestic legal procedures.

Separately, Trump [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117371353802794328) on Truth Social Friday that South Korea’s investment deal “keeps getting BETTER,” announcing an additional $8.4 billion enhanced oil recovery project.

Enhanced oil recovery [uses](https://www.energy.gov/hgeo/enhanced-oil-recovery) techniques such as carbon dioxide injection to increase the amount of crude oil produced from an oil field.

South Korean local media further [reported](https://biz.chosun.com/international/international_economy/2026/10/02/OGOF2ZBRHVAGPB76I27LDLFMEU/) 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.

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