Amid mounting political uncertainty here in Korea and the upcoming leadership change in the U.S., the allies are trying to make sure that their cooperation remains solid.
Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has this report.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to make his farewell trip to South Korea, before the Biden administration ends later this month.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced Friday that he will hold a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul on Monday.
The upcoming meeting is expected to act as an opportunity to publicly show that the two countries’ alliance remains strong,.. despite the political turmoil from the brief imposition of martial law on December 3rd.
Blinken previously said that South Korea has shown the strength of its democratic institutions after the country’s parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.
“Look, I think the most important thing is that the Republic of Korea has demonstrated its democratic resilience. We’ve seen it follow, peacefully, a process laid out in its constitution.”
With only around two weeks left before he leaves office, the top American diplomat is also expected to reaffirm trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan a key diplomatic achievement made during the Biden administration.
Blinken will reportedly visit Japan after wrapping up his trip to Korea.
His visit comes as Seoul and Washington recently agreed to resume the diplomatic interactions that had been put off because of the political fallout.
“Our expectation is that the critical mechanisms in the U.S.-ROK relationship will remain in place, and we believe that a meeting schedule is important.”
Separately, as South Korea continues its efforts to restore credibility following the martial law, Acting President Choi Sang-mok met with the American Ambassador to Seoul, Phillip Goldberg and U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson on Friday and discussed plans regarding the launch of the new U.S. administration.
Choi vowed to push forward with diplomatic and security policies based on a strong alliance and called for active cooperation.
The two American officials also reaffirmed Washington’s support for South Korea, as well as its commitment to defending the country.
Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=279604
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