Vegan Attends ARF Foreign Ministers' Meeting... "Supports Peace on the Korean Peninsula"

Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Policy, is speaking in a series of meetings with Cho Se-young, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul on the morning of the 8th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, expressed support for peace on the Korean Peninsula while attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on the 12th (local time).

The State Department released a statement that day, saying Deputy Secretary Biegun participated in the 27th ARF Foreign Ministers' Meeting held virtually and made these remarks.

The State Department reported that at the meeting, Deputy Secretary Biegun, along with some other foreign ministers, emphasized the United States' support for a path toward lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

He also highlighted the importance of a rules-based international order in addressing rising tensions and militarization in the South China Sea, as well as concerns over Hong Kong's autonomy and human rights violations.

The ARF is the only multilateral security consultation body that includes North Korea. The State Department noted in its statement that 26 foreign ministers attended the meeting and unusually singled out North Korea among the participating countries.

Deputy Secretary Biegun also serves as the State Department's Special Representative for North Korea. He is leading the overall practical negotiations for North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks under the Trump administration.

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