Blinken to Depart Evening of 18th for Alaska High-Level Talks with China

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken concluded his 1-night, 2-day visit to Korea and departed on the evening of the 18th.

On the morning of the 18th, Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, is heading to his seat ahead of the South Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Secretary Blinken boarded a chartered plane at Osan Air Base around 7:10 p.m. and left for Alaska, USA.

In Alaska, Secretary Blinken is scheduled to meet with Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, and China's Yang Jiechi, a member of the Communist Party's Political Bureau responsible for foreign affairs, along with Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy.

Earlier that day, Secretary Blinken attended the Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers' '2+2 Meeting' held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul, where they discussed issues concerning the Korea-U.S. alliance, North Korean nuclear issues, and regional and global matters.

Following the Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers' meeting the previous day, Secretary Blinken strongly criticized China and raised concerns about North Korean human rights issues during the 2+2 meeting as well.

In the afternoon, he visited the Blue House with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to meet President Moon Jae-in.

At the Blue House, he also held talks with Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, exchanging views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and security issues.

He also took some time in the afternoon to hold a virtual meeting with young Korean leaders and young journalists.

During the virtual meeting, Secretary Blinken stated, "A free press is essential in a democracy," and added, "I have deep respect for the press because it is indispensable to a democracy where the media functions properly."

Secretary Blinken was a reporter for the campus newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, while attending Harvard University. After graduation, he worked for about a year as a reporter for The New Republic magazine, showing his longstanding interest in the media.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, with South Korean Minister of National Defense Suh Wook in the afternoon to pay respects at the Memorial Tower.

Secretary Austin is scheduled to depart for his next destination, India, on the morning of the 19th.