Trump notes 'purge or revolution' in South Korea ahead of meeting with President Lee Jae-myung

President Trump on Monday questioned the political stability of South Korea and suggested it could upend finalizing a trade agreement just hours before hosting South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House.

“What is going on in South Korea? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new president today at the White House,” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social.

The president’s post appears to refer to South Korea’s jailed former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December. He was an ally of Mr. Trump.

Mr. Yoon’s wife was later arrested on charges stemming from one of three special prosecutor probes launched by Seoul’s new liberal government targeting Mr. Yoon’s presidency. They are the first former presidential couple to be jailed simultaneously over criminal allegations in South Korea.

The former South Korean president’s actions arose during a political standoff with the liberals, whom he described as anti-state and accused of using their legislative powers to block his agenda.

Mr. Trump’s social media post came just before Mr. Lee was set to arrive at the White House with plans for a $150 billion shipbuilding deal that would include construction of new U.S shipyards, training shipbuilding personnel and U.S. Navy ship maintenance. Shipbuilding is one of the most thriving industries in South Korea.

The shipbuilding deal is a key part of the last-minute trade deal South Korea struck last month with Mr. Trump, who wants to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding for both economic and national security reasons.

Decades of industry decline have left the U.S. responsible for less than 1% of the global shipbuilding sector, compared with 50% for China, 30% for Korea and 10% for Japan. South Korea’s knowledge and equipment could help push the U.S. back to the forefront.

Mr. Lee last month struck a trade deal with Mr. Trump to spare his country from the Trump administration’s highest tariffs, after pledging to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S.

Monday’s meeting could include talks to hammer out the details of South Korea’s $350 million investment fund for U.S. industries, centered around shipbuilding, a sector Mr. Trump has highlighted as critical for U.S. and Korean relations.