(News Focus) What's next for Trump's Korea policy after U.S. midterms? Experts assess alliance friction, N.K. diplomacy

The upcoming U.S. midterm elections are unlikely to fundamentally alter Washington's approach toward its alliance with South Korea, but could affect President Donald Trump's demands on Seoul over security and trade, as well as his pursuit of renewed diplomacy with North Korea, according to Korean affairs experts. The election outcome will likely have limited effects on U.S.-South Korea relations, although Democratic gains could bring greater scrutiny of the Trump administration's policies, according to Ellen Kim of the Korea Economic Institute of America.

Robert Rapson, former acting U.S. ambassador to Seoul, warned that the alliance could continue to experience difficulties stemming from Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy, regardless of the election outcome.

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