Naper, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Visits Korea to Discuss 'Alliance Dialogue' with Director General of North American Affairs at Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Decided to Maintain Close Communication Regardless of Political Schedule

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Ko Yoon-joo, Director General of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Mark Naepher, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who is visiting Korea on the 6th, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building to discuss mutual interests including Korea-U.S. issues and regional situations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

The two sides reviewed preparations to ensure the successful visit of Minister Kang Kyung-wha to the U.S. scheduled for next week, and discussed ways to enhance regional cooperation between Korea and the U.S., including linking the New Southern Policy and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy.

They also exchanged views on the future direction of the director-general level consultative body, tentatively named the "Alliance Dialogue," based on the agenda to be discussed during the North American Affairs Bureau Director General's visit to the U.S. in October.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Director General Ko and Deputy Assistant Secretary Naepher, as officials overseeing Korea-U.S. practical relations, agreed to maintain close strategic communication regardless of domestic political schedules, thereby managing Korea-U.S. issues in a stable manner."

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