US-ROK Delegation Returning Home... Emphasizing Strengthening the US-ROK Partnership

Biden and Blinken Unable to Meet, Facing Criticism for 'Limitations'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The South Korea-U.S. Policy Consultation Delegation of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol concluded about a week of policy consultations with the U.S. side on the 10th (local time) and departed for home.

Park Jin, head of the South Korea-U.S. Policy Consultation Delegation, posted on his Facebook ahead of his return on the 11th, stating, "The delegation representing President-elect Yoon’s transition team in the U.S. laid the groundwork for substantive policy consultations aimed at normalizing the alliance with the United States and achieved meaningful results during a rewarding time."

Before returning, Park met with reporters and evaluated the visit, saying, "We were able to properly discuss not only the bilateral South Korea-U.S. relationship but also what Korea can contribute amid global changes," and added, "the era of a global strategic partnership between South Korea and the United States has officially begun."

He emphasized, "The South Korea-U.S. global strategic partnership is based on shared core values of both countries, namely democracy, market economy, rule of law, and human rights," and said, "In that sense, this visit was the first step toward the global strategic partnership."

Park evaluated that President-elect Yoon pursues a "global pivotal state contributing to freedom, peace, and prosperity," and said, "This visit marked a good first step toward becoming a global pivotal state." He noted that there are many areas for cooperation and coordination between the two countries not only on North Korea issues but also globally.

He added, "The Biden administration has prioritized its response to China relations, but now, due to the Ukraine situation, relations with Russia also form a major axis," and said, "In such rapidly changing global circumstances, we discussed strategies to maximize national interests."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park, the delegation head, conveyed that a high-ranking U.S. official will be sent to President-elect Yoon’s inauguration ceremony scheduled for the 10th of next month, and said, "Once the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is launched, we plan to prepare a substantive South Korea-U.S. summit meeting at an early stage."

Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue and the mention of CVID (Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible Denuclearization) in the U.S., he explained, "It is a return to basics."

After arriving in the U.S. on the 3rd, the delegation held meetings over seven nights and eight days with officials from the U.S. administration, Congress, and think tanks to explain the new government’s vision and discuss various issues. In particular, they met with key U.S. diplomatic and security figures such as National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell, delivering a personal letter from President-elect Yoon to President Biden.

However, there are voices pointing out limitations as they did not meet with President Biden or Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Woo Sang-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on TBS Radio’s "Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory" on the same day and criticized, "Considering South Korea’s international status, this is an absurd diplomatic fiasco," and said, "It was quite a diplomatic snub at the door."

Meanwhile, the delegation reported that former U.S. Army Reserve Colonel William Weber, a Korean War veteran, passed away the day before, and that former Defense Attach? to the U.S., Pyo Se-woo, visited him shortly before his death to offer condolences.