3-Day US-ROK Foreign Ministers Meeting in Washington
Emphasizing 'Space Alliance' with NASA Officials
Urging Strong Response to North Korean Provocations at UN Security Council
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Foreign Minister Park Jin will visit the United States from July 1 to 4. This visit is seen as a preparatory step for President Yoon Seok-yeol's anticipated visit to the U.S. in the first half of this year, and it is expected that in-depth discussions related to the development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance will take place.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 31st, Minister Park will visit New York and Washington, D.C. from July 1 to 4. On July 3, he is scheduled to hold a South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
Senior Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim said at a regular briefing that "this is the first meeting between the two ministers marking the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance this year," adding, "They plan to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the alliance and discuss ways to strengthen the global comprehensive strategic alliance and close cooperation on North Korea policy."
Foreign Minister Park Jin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken [Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Image source=Yonhap News]
Minister Park's visit to the U.S. is interpreted as a preparatory work for President Yoon's expected visit to the U.S. in the first half of this year. Accordingly, discussions on the outcomes of alliance development that the two countries will present during President Yoon's visit are expected to take place at this South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters that the purpose of Minister Park's visit is "the first visit by a senior government official to mark the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," and explained, "Through this visit, we will seek tangible achievements that the public can feel in various fields such as security, economy, regional, and global cooperation."
He added, "The North Korean nuclear issue is a priority in South Korea-U.S. cooperation," and "It is significant in expanding support from the U.S. administration and bipartisan circles for the Indo-Pacific strategy announced by our government last year, and we plan to further strengthen linkage and cooperation with the U.S. in the implementation process of the Indo-Pacific strategy."
Since Secretary Blinken is scheduled to visit China immediately after the meeting with Minister Park on the 5th, it is expected that the South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting will naturally include references to South Korea-China relations and China's role in the North Korean nuclear issue.
Additionally, Minister Park plans to meet with senior officials from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to discuss ways to develop the South Korea-U.S. alliance into a space alliance.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "He is scheduled to meet with senior NASA officials as well as Korean-American science and technology venture entrepreneurs," and added, "As a follow-up to the 'technology alliance' announced at the first South Korea-U.S. summit last May, we plan to explore the direction of developing the South Korea-U.S. alliance as a 'science, technology, and space alliance.'"
Before visiting Washington, Minister Park will first visit New York, where the United Nations headquarters is located, on July 1. His first schedule is to hold a luncheon meeting with Security Council member states, urging the Security Council to respond strongly and unitedly to North Korea's provocations.
He will then meet with UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres to exchange views on South Korea-UN cooperation, the Korean Peninsula issue, and global challenges.
In addition, Minister Park will engage in activities to support South Korea's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2024?2025 term. He will host a reception inviting the UN diplomatic corps and senior UN officials and introduce South Korea's plans for its Security Council activities.
Meanwhile, Minister Park is considering attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany from July 17 to 19. Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa is also reportedly considering attending.
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