Biden: "Revitalizing Alliances Is Top Priority in Foreign Policy"

Official Toast Speech at the State Banquet Held at the National Museum of Korea

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden are toasting at a welcome dinner held on the afternoon of the 21st at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden stated on the 21st, "Revitalizing the (South Korea-U.S.) alliance is one of the most important elements in foreign policy that I considered when I took office last year."

President Biden made these remarks during a toast at the official dinner held at the National Museum of Korea that evening. He added, "The democracy that South Korea has demonstrated clearly shows what the power of democracy brings to its people."

President Biden said, "I had a very productive meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol," and added, "But more importantly, we had the opportunity to get to know each other personally, sharing many stories from the start and learning a lot early on."

He continued, "I worry that we might have shared too much information with each other because we talked so much," lightening the atmosphere of the dinner.

President Biden also expressed gratitude for President Yoon quoting his favorite poet William Butler Yeats in his welcoming speech at the dinner, joking, "That wouldn't have been possible in London (UK)."

Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright who published poems depicting the Irish uprising against British rule. President Biden has often emphasized his Irish heritage.

President Biden concluded the dinner toast by saying, "I hope the alliance between our two great nations will continue to flourish for decades to come," and used the toast commonly made at the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, "We go together."