[tooltalk]

China, South Korea, and Japan really don't have the best diplomatic/trade relationship.

South Korea has in particular suffered a great deal undr China's economic coercion since THAAD in 2017 -- their global giants like Samsung, Hyundai lost over 90% of their sales in China and they have likewise removed much of their manufacturing footprint in China. Not all too sure they want to jeopadize otherwise collaborative relationship with friendly ally, the US, for a hostile trading bully next door, China.

[Dalewyn]

That's what I would think too, but meanwhile Japanese PM Kishida looked very happy about the meeting and moving forward with FTA talks. I have no clue as to how South Korea felt about it, though given this was a trilateral talk I would assume similar sentiments.

If that FTA does become a thing, the US will have lost before any hot war even began. May we live in fun times.