Director of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Also Visits the U.S., Discusses Promotion of 'Alliance Dialogue'

Exchanged Views with Mark Napier, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State... Discussed Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Diplomats and security officials are visiting the United States one after another ahead of the November U.S. presidential election, actively engaging in face-to-face diplomacy. On the 15th (local time), Ko Yoon-joo, Director of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Mark Napier, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan, to discuss the direction of the 'Korea-U.S. Alliance Dialogue,' a working-level consultative body to address Korea-U.S. issues. It appears that the first meeting to promote the working-level consultative body, which had been stagnant, has been launched.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 16th, Ko Yoon-joo met with Deputy Assistant Secretary Napier and other State Department officials during the 52nd Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held in Washington, U.S., to discuss current issues between the Korean and U.S. diplomatic authorities. The Ministry explained, "In the meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary Napier, we reaffirmed the strength of the Korea-U.S. alliance, the linchpin of peace and security in the region," and "discussed ongoing bilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region."

Director Ko particularly exchanged views on the 'Alliance Dialogue (tentative name)' that Choi Jong-geon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, agreed to promote with the U.S. side during his visit to the United States last month. On October 10th, Deputy Minister Choi held a meeting with Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, where they discussed current issues including the Korean Peninsula peace process and agreed to establish the Alliance Dialogue, a director-level working consultative body between the two countries' diplomatic authorities to regularly review and coordinate various alliance issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We exchanged opinions on the proposal to establish the director-level consultative body 'Alliance Dialogue,' which was discussed at the Korea-U.S. Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting on September 10th, and on the future direction of its promotion."

Furthermore, Director Ko met with U.S. congressional officials and think tank experts to exchange views on trends and prospects related to the U.S. presidential election, and agreed to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance through close communication. This move is interpreted as an effort to reaffirm diplomatic channels to discuss Korean Peninsula issues ahead of the critical turning point of the U.S. presidential election.

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, key diplomatic and security officials are visiting the United States one after another. On the 13th, Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, visited the U.S. and met with Robert O'Brien, White House National Security Advisor, and on the 15th, discussed current issues with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. On the 14th, Suh Wook, Minister of National Defense, held the 52nd Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

Earlier last month, following Deputy Minister Choi, Lee Do-hoon, Director of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, met with Deputy Secretary Biegun, who also serves as the Special Representative for North Korea, to hold consultations between chief nuclear negotiators and discuss the 'Declaration of the End of War' proposed by President Moon Jae-in in his United Nations (UN) speech. Kim Hyun-jong, Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, also visited the U.S. from the 16th to the 20th of last month, meeting with officials from the State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and other U.S. government agencies to discuss major Korea-U.S. issues and regional situations.