President Moon: "Sherman, US Deputy Secretary, Highly Expected as a Diplomat Knowledgeable about the Korean Peninsula" (Comprehensive)

President Moon meets with US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman... "Excellent US State Department lineup, 'Return of the Diplomat'"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 22nd, President Moon Jae-in met with Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, at the Blue House and said, "Deputy Secretary Sherman is a veteran diplomat well-versed in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, having held key positions in the State Department. Expectations are high."

Deputy Secretary Sherman said, "It feels like coming to my second hometown after a long time," and added, "Korea is a full-fledged partner of the United States and a true global partner."

President Moon said, "President Biden emphasized the 'return of America' and the 'return of diplomacy,' but looking at the State Department lineup composed of two outstanding diplomats, Secretary Blinken and Deputy Secretary Sherman, I think we should add the 'return of diplomats' as well," offering his compliments. President Moon also requested, "I hope you will play a significant role and contribute to the Korea-U.S. alliance and peace on the Korean Peninsula."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Kyung-mi, spokesperson for the Blue House, said, "President Moon recalled that during the May summit, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to continue cooperating through dialogue and diplomacy to achieve their shared goals of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace, and asked Deputy Secretary Sherman to actively work toward resuming North Korea-U.S. talks."

Deputy Secretary Sherman said, "I hope North Korea will respond promptly to the U.S. offer for dialogue," and added, "I look forward to closely coordinating efforts with South Korea regarding North Korea policy." Spokesperson Park explained, "(Deputy Secretary Sherman) also said that during her visit to China, she intends to have in-depth discussions with the Chinese side on North Korea policy."

Deputy Secretary Sherman proposed, "South Korea and the United States, which have a strong alliance, should work together on global issues such as climate change." President Moon said, "The U.S. held the Climate Summit, and South Korea hosted P4G. South Korea is currently preparing to announce an enhanced NDC at COP26 and is working to host COP28."

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary Sherman emphasized the Korea-U.S. alliance by saying, "BTS's Permission to Dance is popular worldwide, and because Korea and the U.S. worked together in harmony, no permission is needed." President Moon said, "Please convey my special regards to President Biden when you return."

Spokesperson Park explained, "Following the presidential meeting, Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, also met with Deputy Secretary Sherman and had an in-depth discussion on follow-up implementation plans for resuming inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. talks and for the comprehensive strengthening and development of the Korea-U.S. alliance based on the outcomes of the Korea-U.S. summit."