Kang Kyung-wha Meets Pompeo, "Maintain Close Cooperation on Managing Korean Peninsula Situation"... First Face-to-Face Talks in 9 Months

Continued Cooperation on COVID-19 and WTO Director-General Election
Visit to the U.S. Until the 11th... Possible Contact with Biden Administration Officials

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting the United States until the 11th, held a foreign ministers' meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the 9th (local time) and agreed to closely cooperate to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the day, Minister Kang shared an assessment of the current situation regarding the Korean Peninsula during a lunch meeting combined with a foreign ministers' meeting with Secretary Pompeo in Washington DC. This face-to-face meeting between the two ministers was the first in about nine months since February.

Subsequently, the two ministers agreed to continue efforts to advance the Korea-U.S. peace process, including the development of Korea-U.S. relations based on the strong Korea-U.S. alliance, and to maintain communication and consultation between the diplomatic authorities.

In particular, the two ministers evaluated that the Korea-U.S. alliance has firmly established itself as a comprehensive strategic alliance that strengthens cooperation not only in security but also in economic, regional, and global issues, and exchanged views on various alliance-related matters.

Minister Kang also discussed cooperation on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The two ministers highly appreciated the continuation of cooperation and exchanges such as general travelers, businesspeople, international students, and high-level reciprocal visits without mutual border closures and entry restrictions despite the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the two ministers exchanged opinions on the selection of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and agreed to continue consultations related to this matter.

Meanwhile, Minister Kang is scheduled to visit the United States for four days from the 8th at the invitation of Secretary Pompeo. During her visit to the U.S., Minister Kang plans to meet with members of the U.S. Congress, academia, and think tank officials. Attention is focused on whether meetings will also take place with personnel from the Joe Biden camp, who have secured victory in the U.S. presidential election, during this process.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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