Choi Jong-geon and Biegun Deputy Minister Talks, Establishment of 'Alliance Dialogue' Working-Level Consultative Body at Director-General Level

First In-Person Meeting After Vice Minister Choi's Inauguration
Regular Review of Alliance Issues Through Korea-US Consultative Body
Close Cooperation for Prompt Resumption of Inter-Korean and North Korea-US Talks

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 10th (local time), Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a Korea-US Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Steven Biegun, US Deputy Secretary of State, and agreed to establish a director-level working consultative body called the "Alliance Dialogue (tentative name)" to regularly review various issues.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the deputy foreign ministers' meeting held that day, Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Biegun evaluated that the Korea-US alliance has played a pivotal role in the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, and agreed to continue steady cooperation and communication based on the strong trust built by the Korea-US leaders over the past three years. Vice Minister Choi held a face-to-face meeting in Washington DC with Deputy Secretary Biegun, the US dialogue partner, for the first time since his appointment.

Both vice ministers agreed on establishing the director-level working consultative body "Alliance Dialogue" between the two countries' foreign authorities to strengthen alliance cooperation, and decided to regularly review and coordinate on various alliance issues through this consultative body. Regarding the urgent Korea-US Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing, they agreed to continue close communication not only between the negotiation representatives of both countries but also between the two vice ministers to narrow differences.

Furthermore, they agreed to cooperate closely for the prompt resumption of inter-Korean and North Korea-US dialogues. Vice Minister Choi expressed gratitude for Deputy Secretary Biegun's persistent efforts to advance the Korean Peninsula peace process and proposed active cooperation to diplomatically support the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

In response, Deputy Secretary Biegun expressed support for the South Korean government's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. The two vice ministers also exchanged views on regional situations and global mutual interests and agreed to continue discussing ways to enhance regional cooperation between the two countries.

This visit by Vice Minister Choi to the US was realized two months after Deputy Secretary Biegun's visit to Korea in July. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "Despite the COVID-19 situation, it signifies that strategic communication between the two countries is very close and smooth," adding, "Vice Minister Choi invited Deputy Secretary Biegun to visit Korea and proposed continuing high-level exchanges between Korea and the US."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.