[Anchor]
With the midterm elections just three weeks away, U.S. President Donald Trump, staking everything on the race, traveled to Alaska to campaign in support of safeguarding a Republican stronghold. At the rally, President Trump claimed that Taiwan had promised to invest in the Alaska LNG development project and repeatedly asserted that South Korea has also decided to invest $50 billion.
Here is a report from reporter Kim Young-a.
[Reporter]
President Trump appears before supporters waving the American flag.
Campaigning for the midterms in Wasilla, Alaska, Trump announced that, in a freshly finalized deal, Taiwan has pledged to import 30 percent of Alaskan natural gas over the next 20 years.
As he emphasized that the success of the Alaska LNG development project is guaranteed, the crowd cheers.
[Trump / U.S. President: Success is guaranteed. This is the largest commitment secured in history across all sectors.]
Trump then stated that Taiwan would also invest $4.4 billion in the Alaska LNG development project, raising his voice to note that this is in addition to the $50 billion that South Korea has already promised.
[Trump / U.S. President: Taiwan will also invest $4.4 billion in this project. That is in addition to the $50 billion that South Korea has promised to invest in Alaska.]
During her first official briefing, the new White House press secretary also highlighted South Korea's investment in the Alaska LNG project as one of Trump's achievements.
[Karoline Leavitt / New White House Press Secretary: There is $54 billion tied to the Alaska LNG pipeline and terminal project. This is to serve the Pacific Rim and sell fuel to our allies.]
This effectively treats South Korea's investment as a fait accompli, ignoring the South Korean government's position that further review and consultation are necessary.
In Alaska, a traditional Republican stronghold, incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is locked in a tight race with the Democratic candidate in this election.
Trump and the Republican Party are putting forward the Alaska LNG project as their top card to capture voter sentiment.
The Taiwanese government has also officially confirmed its purchase of Alaskan LNG and participation in the development project.
As a result, pressure is expected to mount further on the South Korean government, which has emphasized commercial rationality as a condition for investment.
(Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol)
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