Washington, USA (Reuters) Claiming to have "trillions of dollars each," Japan, South Korea, and other nations want to collaborate with the United States in a "gigantic" natural gas pipeline in Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday.



In his address to the U.S. Congress, Trump declared that the pipeline would rank among the biggest in the world.

With investments of trillions of dollars apiece, "Japan, South Korea and other nations want to be our partner," he remarked.

The industry ministry of South Korea said Minister Ahn Duk-geun discussed the idea with U.S. officials during a visit to Washington last week; however, no specifics had been finalised.

"We will actively engage in discussions with the United States moving forward as it is a matter of mutual interest of the two countries," a ministry spokesman responded following Trump's comments.

Ahn earlier on Tuesday claimed the United States had enquired about participation in the Alaskan liquefied natural gas project among South Korea and other nations.

Seoul and Washington, he added, had agreed to form a working-level group to address the pipeline, energy, shipbuilding, tariffs, non-tariff barriers.

Ahn's trip to Washington was meant to be a means of seeking exemption from Trump administration taxes projected to severely affect South Korea's export-dependent economy.

As it would stabilise Japan's energy supply and lower the U.S. trade imbalance, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Wednesday extending American petrol, bioethanol and ammonia imports would "meet the national interests of both Japan and the U.S." He said similar things after seeing Trump last month.