Lee Tae-ho 2nd Vice Minister Talks with US State Department Economic Deputy Secretary... Plans to Hold High-Level Economic Consultations in the US in the Second Half of the Year

Deputy Minister Krak Explains 'Anti-China Economic Bloc' EPN

Lee Tae-ho, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Keith Krach, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, are taking a commemorative photo at the '3rd Korea-U.S. Public-Private Joint Economic Forum' held on the 7th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the morning of the 5th, Lee Tae-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a phone call with Keith Krach, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, exchanging views on major economic issues between Korea and the United States.

The two vice ministers evaluated the mutual cooperation between the two governments in responding to COVID-19 and discussed the Korea-U.S. Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) and the U.S. global economic security initiative.

As the chief representatives of both sides in the Korea-U.S. Senior Economic Dialogue (SED), the two vice ministers agreed to hold a director-level meeting via video conference at the end of June to prepare in advance for the next SED, and to promote the 5th SED in the second half of the year as an in-person meeting in the United States.

Vice Minister Krach explained various international economic issues of interest to the U.S., including the Economic Prosperity Network initiative, and agreed to continue consultations on these matters going forward.

Meanwhile, Vice Minister Krach expressed gratitude for the recent Korea-U.S. leaders' phone call on the 1st, during which the U.S. invited Korea to the G7 summit as part of the plan to expand the G7 summit, and Korea accepted the invitation. He also expressed hope that fruitful outcomes will be achieved through consultations among the related countries.