"North Korea Condemned for Launching Suspected Ballistic Missile"
South Korea and U.S. Also Discuss Ukraine and South China Sea Issues
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol and U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who visited Korea to attend the 3rd Democracy Summit, are conversing during the Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting held over lunch at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States held talks on the 18th and voiced condemnation of North Korea's ballistic missile launches.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a luncheon meeting on the day and condemned North Korea's launch of several projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles just before the Summit for Democracy.
Secretary Blinken arrived in Seoul the day before to attend the ministerial meeting of the 3rd Summit for Democracy, which opened in Seoul on the day.
Minister Cho expressed gratitude for Secretary Blinken's direct attendance at the meeting and for President Joe Biden's planned virtual participation in the summit.
Additionally, both ministers evaluated that South Korea hosting this summit following the United States is a clear example that the ROK-U.S. alliance is a value-based alliance founded on universal values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
In the morning of the same day, both ministers criticized North Korea's launch of multiple projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles, pointing out that "North Korea's continuous provocations only strengthen trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as well as the international community's coordination on North Korea."
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States' firm defense commitment to South Korea's security, and Minister Cho stated that although North Korea defines inter-Korean relations as hostile belligerent relations and denies unification, South Korea will continue to make efforts toward unification.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized, "Both ministers reaffirmed the goal of North Korea's complete denuclearization and expressed concern over any potential unilateral attempts by North Korea to change the status quo in the West Sea, agreeing to closely cooperate going forward."
Furthermore, the two ministers agreed to continue cooperation to cut off illegal funding sources used for North Korea's nuclear and missile development, including North Korea's illegal cyber activities, dispatch of overseas workers, and maritime transshipment of refined oil.
Regional issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, the South China Sea, and Taiwan were also discussed during the talks.
With Russian President Vladimir Putin's landslide victory in the presidential election on the 17th (local time), tensions between Russia and Western countries surrounding Ukraine are expected to rise further.
After completing his schedule in South Korea, Secretary Blinken will immediately visit the Philippines to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Secretary Blinken had previously announced that he would discuss ways to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea during his visit to the Philippines, so it is likely that the ROK-U.S. foreign ministers also exchanged views on territorial disputes in the South China Sea during their meeting.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Both ministers comprehensively discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on the global stage, including the United Nations Security Council, the Group of Seven (G7), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and agreed to continue consultations at various international meetings."
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