Moon and Biden to hold talks in Washington in late May... "US-Japan meeting to discuss China and North Korea issues"

White House: "Denuclearization of North Korea is the Goal"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House announced that the South Korea-US summit will be held in late May. The US-Japan summit scheduled for the 16th is expected to discuss issues related to North Korea and China.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the summit during a briefing on the 15th (local time), stating, "President Joe Biden looks forward to welcoming President Moon to the White House in late May."

Earlier, the Blue House also announced that President Moon and President Biden will hold their first summit in Washington DC in late May. This summit will take place in the form of President Moon visiting Washington DC at President Biden’s invitation.

Psaki said that the exact schedule of the summit is still under consultation between the South Korean and US sides.

Psaki also reiterated that the US government’s goal is the denuclearization of North Korea. She explained, "We sometimes use the terms ‘denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula’ and ‘denuclearization of North Korea’ interchangeably," emphasizing that there is no special meaning or difference in the use of these terms. While the Biden administration has referred to North Korea’s denuclearization, the South Korean government uses the term denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

President Biden will begin face-to-face summit diplomacy starting with a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the 16th. Next week, President Biden will host a virtual climate change summit inviting leaders from over 40 countries, intensifying summit diplomacy. President Moon is also expected to attend the climate change summit.

Psaki predicted that China and North Korea’s denuclearization will be topics discussed at the US-Japan summit.

Psaki said, "Of course, our approach to China, and our joint coordination and cooperation on that front, will be part of the discussion along with our shared commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization."

She also said, "Security will be an important issue, and regional security as well."