Firm Response to North Korean Provocations
"Denuclearization is a Shared Interest of Korea, US, and China"
Sullivan: "Yoon's US Visit, a Vision for the Future"
Meeting with US Lawmakers and Visiting NASA
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Foreign Minister Park Jin has completed a four-day visit to the United States. Minister Park, who visited the U.S. to explore ways to elevate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance to a higher level, departed for home on the 4th (local time) via Dulles International Airport.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the 1st to the 4th, Minister Park met with U.S. government officials, members of Congress, research institutes, and United Nations representatives in New York and Washington to discuss strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance and cooperation on North Korean nuclear issues. He focused on solidifying a "global comprehensive strategic alliance" that expands the scope of cooperation in the security-centered Korea-U.S. alliance to include economic, technological, space, and global challenge areas.
On the 2nd, Minister Park met with Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, emphasizing close cooperation for President Yoon's successful visit to the U.S. Sullivan responded that the U.S. National Security Council would do its utmost to ensure that President Yoon's visit serves as an opportunity to present a future blueprint for the alliance.
Foreign Minister Park Jin meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Sullivan (Washington = Yonhap News) Foreign Minister Park Jin (right), visiting the United States, shakes hands with Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, at the White House on February 2 (local time), 2023.2.2 [Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Resale and DB prohibited]
On the 3rd, during talks with Secretary of State Tony Blinken, they presented a blueprint for the next 70 years of the Korea-U.S. alliance and discussed ways to advance mutually agreed matters. Discussions included extended deterrence, supply chains, advanced core technologies, and space cooperation. Both sides agreed to maintain a robust Korea-U.S. combined defense posture to respond to the North Korean nuclear threat and to strengthen efforts to block North Korea's illicit financing.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea by mobilizing all U.S. capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense, emphasizing there is "no doubt" regarding extended deterrence, which has caused concern in South Korea.
Foreign Minister Park Jin held a joint press conference after concluding talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on the afternoon of the 3rd (local time). [Yonhap]
Foreign Minister Park Jin is holding talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on the afternoon of the 3rd (local time). On the U.S. side, Jose Fernandez, Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, were present. [Yonhap]
In the economic and technological fields, there was progress in revising and extending the "Agreement on Korea-U.S. Science and Technology Cooperation." This agreement stipulates the exchange of information, personnel exchanges, and joint research related to science and technology cooperation. Secretary Blinken introduced that the scope of cooperation will expand not only in the long-standing space sector but also in emerging fields such as biotechnology, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence (AI).
The two countries plan to hold the Korea-U.S. Space Forum this year to strengthen cooperation in the space sector. Minister Park met with Bill Nelson, Administrator of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to discuss space cooperation in the private, commercial, and security sectors. Minister Park and Secretary Blinken also discussed ways for South Korea to expand support, focusing on energy and other areas, for Ukraine, whose energy infrastructure was destroyed by Russian attacks.
Foreign Minister Park Jin (right) visited the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the 2nd (local time), met with Administrator Bill Nelson, and took a commemorative photo. [Yonhap]
Additionally, on the morning of the 4th (local time), Minister Park met with Edwin Feulner, founder of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, exchanging views on the Korea-U.S. alliance, regional, and global affairs.
Minister Park asked Founder Feulner to continue playing a role in garnering understanding and support from the U.S. public and political circles for South Korea's foreign policy, and Feulner expressed his commitment to actively support the comprehensive development of Korea-U.S. relations.
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