Harris's DMZ Visit "A Strong Signal to North Korea with Great Significance"
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is looking toward the North Korean region at Outlet GP in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 29th. / Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 29th that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris's visit to Korea is "clear evidence of the high importance and trust the U.S. government places on the Korea-U.S. alliance."
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters in the afternoon, "Just four months after U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Korea in May, both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Vice President have visited. It is unprecedented for the top three protocol-ranked officials in the U.S. to visit Korea within such a short period," adding this comment.
He also self-assessed, "This visit has created another opportunity for the development of the Korea-U.S. alliance and high-level exchanges between the two countries."
Vice President Harris arrived in the morning at Osan Air Base, a U.S. Air Force base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, by her private plane, and then met President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul.
They exchanged views on ways to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance as well as on the issue of electric vehicle tax credit benefits under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Vice President Harris expressed understanding of Korea's concerns and reportedly mentioned that she would carefully ensure that solutions are found during the law enforcement process.
The U.S. Treasury Department plans to draft guidelines related to the electric vehicle tax credit benefits included in the IRA by the end of the year. The Korean government is seeking ways to maximize Korea's interests even in the subordinate guidelines.
During the meeting, sensitive issues such as the Taiwan Strait were also discussed. The White House stated in a post-meeting press release that "(Both sides) discussed China and Taiwan issues and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," noting that Vice President Harris emphasized this as an essential element of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
Vice President Harris also visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the afternoon. Regarding this, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "Given the increasingly serious situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's nuclear weapons policy legalization and recent short-range ballistic missile launches, this sends a strong signal to North Korea and holds great significance."
He added, "Vice President Harris has always shown great interest in our country and the Korea-U.S. alliance, and it is understood that this is why she wished to visit Korea."
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