US State Department on South Korea's Proposal for 'Alliance Dialogue': "Deputy Secretary Biegun Positively Considering"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The U.S. Department of State has announced that it agrees to positively consider the 'Alliance Dialogue,' a consultative body between South Korean and U.S. diplomatic authorities proposed by South Korea.

On the 14th (local time), a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State responded to Yonhap News Agency's inquiry regarding the establishment of the 'Alliance Dialogue' announced by South Korea after the Korea-U.S. Deputy Ministerial Meeting, stating, "Both sides agreed on the need to take measures to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance." First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-geon and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun held their first face-to-face consultation since Vice Minister Choi's appointment on the 10th in Washington, D.C.

The State Department further stated, "Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Biegun agreed that measures to strengthen the alliance must continue," adding, "Vice Minister Choi proposed the Alliance Dialogue, and Deputy Secretary Biegun agreed to positively consider it."

Prior to the State Department's remarks regarding the 'Alliance Dialogue,' some media outlets reported that the U.S. Department of State had not agreed to the new consultative body, citing the absence of this content in the U.S. announcement related to the Deputy Ministerial Meeting. In response, Vice Minister Choi, on his way back from the U.S., explained again to reporters that there is no disagreement with the U.S. on establishing a director-level consultative body between diplomatic authorities, and that the first meeting is planned around October.

Earlier, Vice Minister Choi visited the U.S. from the 9th to the 11th and held the Deputy Ministerial Consultation with Deputy Secretary Biegun on the 10th. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release, "Both countries agreed to establish the Alliance Dialogue (tentative name), a director-level working consultative body between the two countries' diplomatic authorities, and decided to regularly review and coordinate various alliance issues through this consultative body."

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