South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and top trade envoy Yeo Han-koo will meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington again on Friday in a bid to move closer to a deal on tariffs,

The agreement that Japan secured has added pressure on South Korea to defuse the threat of high tariffs on its exports to the United States.

Less than two months into his presidency, South Korean leader Lee Jae Myung is facing an early diplomatic and economic test, as his top negotiators struggle to make headway in trade talks with the US before higher levies kick in next week.