Yoon to hold summit with Biden on May 21
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Loading... - Feng Siong
- 28 Apr 2022
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South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden will hold the first summit in Seoul on May 21, 10 days after Yoon officially takes office, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Yoon’s office welcomed the US president’s trip to South Korea, as the US White House confirmed he will travel to South Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24.
“President-elect Yoon welcomes Biden who will visit South Korea on May 20-22. Yoon will hold in-depth talks with Biden over a wide range of topics, including reinforcing the Korea-US alliance, joint policy efforts in handling North Korea issues, as well as economic security and major international current affairs,” Yoon’s spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin said in a statement.
“We anticipate the meeting will provide the grounds for a stronger bilateral comprehensive strategic alliance,” Bae said, adding that Yoon’s office and the presidential transition team would do their best for a successful summit.
The summit, just 10 days after Yoon officially assumes office, is to be the earliest ever for a Korea-US summit to take place after a South Korean president’s inauguration, according to the spokesperson.
The White House said the US president will travel to South Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24, “to further deepen ties between the governments, economies and people.”
“This trip will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s rock-solid commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and to US treaty alliances with the Republic of Korea and Japan,” US White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
“The leaders will discuss opportunities to deepen our vital security relationships, enhance economic ties, and expand our close cooperation to deliver practical results.”
After staying in Seoul for three days, Biden will take off to Tokyo for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a US-led regional security forum that includes Australia, India and Japan. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on May 23, and then attend the Quad meeting on May 24, according to reports in Japan.
Biden’s trip will come amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, following North Korean launches of missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile in March.
In their summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss joint efforts to handle North Korea’s missile provocations, as well as a possible underground nuclear test that the reclusive regime appears to be preparing, as shown in satellite imagery. Read More…
