SEOUL (Reuters) -Three South Korean cabinet-level officials met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington in a push to close a trade deal, Seoul said on Wednesday, squaring off with a key U.

President Trump is set to hit several major U.S. trading partners with steep tariffs if they don’t agree to new trade terms before an Aug. 1. deadline. Trump suggested Monday that any nation that refuses to strike a deal with the U.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his country's "steadfast" commitment to safeguarding the Korean Peninsula, underscoring the two countries' strong alliance in the face of "the evils of communism" in the region.

There has been cautious optimism in the South that the North may respond positively and may even show willingness to re-engage in dialogue.

North Korea has rejected recent proposals by South Korea’s government to ease tensions between the two countries. The communist country cited South Korea’s cooperation and strong ties with the U.S. as the main reasons for spurning de-escalation attempts.