SOUTH KOREA

Trade Deficit With U.S. Predicted: The country’s trade deficits with the United States and Japan continue to grow sharply, prompting officials to predict the first annual deficit with America since 1981. The United States had an $870-million trade surplus with South Korea in the first eight months of 1991, compared to a deficit of $1.5 billion a year earlier. From 1987 to 1989, the annual trade surplus with the United States exceeded $10 billion, prompting Washington to seek market-opening measures from Seoul. The deficit with Japan during the eight months was $6.2 billion, a 59% rise.