US State Department: "Biegun Supports ROK-US Alliance and Inter-Korean Cooperation... Continues Engagement in North Korea Dialogue"

Seo Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, is taking a commemorative photo before a meeting with Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, who is visiting Cheong Wa Dae on the 9th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of State reported that during Steven Biegun's visit to South Korea, he met with Korean officials to reaffirm the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and America's support for inter-Korean cooperation, and expressed his continued commitment to engaging in dialogue with North Korea.

On the 9th (local time), the Department of State released a press statement regarding Biegun's visit to Seoul as Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, stating that during his visit, Biegun met with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Hyun-jong, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Se-young, and Director of the Korea Peace Negotiations Office Lee Do-hoon.

The Department of State noted that Biegun highly praised South Korea for maintaining democratic values and serving as a model in responding to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He also discussed security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, including responding to attempts by those seeking to undermine cooperation among like-minded countries, good governance, and an international order based on rules.

This suggests that during his visit, Biegun raised issues such as South Korea's participation in the anti-China front and expressed willingness to accept South Korea's inter-Korean cooperation projects as long as they do not violate sanctions.

Although the press statement did not mention the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations, the reference to the South Korea-U.S. alliance indirectly acknowledges that defense cost-sharing was also a topic of dialogue between the two countries.