Vice Minister Choi Jong-geon: "Many Achievements in the Past 2 Years Between Korea and the US... The Irreversible Path to Peace on the Korean Peninsula Has Begun"

Vegan Deputy Minister: "Close Cooperation on COVID, Alliances, and North Korea Issues... Will Continue in the Future"
US-Korea Deputy Foreign Ministers Hold Talks at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building on the Morning of the 9th

Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, is posing for a photo on December 9 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul, before a meeting with Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. / Photo by Joint Press Corps, 2020.12.09

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, who arrived in Korea on the 8th, began his official visit with a meeting with Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. With the Biden administration set to take office in January next year, this visit is effectively the last before the new administration, and both South Korea and the U.S. are expected to focus on ensuring a smooth transition of key issues such as the Korea-U.S. alliance and the Korean Peninsula peace process to the next administration. In particular, the Korean government appears to be putting in more effort than ever, personally overseeing Biegun’s dinner schedule until the 11th.

Before the vice ministerial talks with Vice Minister Choi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Seoul, at 10 a.m. on the 9th, Deputy Secretary Biegun said in his opening remarks, “The two countries have cooperated not only on alliance issues but also on North Korea-related matters and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic,” adding, “So far, the Korea-U.S. alliance has accomplished many excellent things, and will continue to do so.” This face-to-face meeting between the two officials comes three months after their last meeting in Washington, D.C. in September.

Earlier, Vice Minister Choi said, “Over the past two years, the Donald Trump and Moon Jae-in administrations have achieved many results, and both countries have embarked on an irreversible journey toward peace on the Korean Peninsula,” adding, “North Korea is also aware of this.” He also stated that while some view Biegun’s visit as his final one, he disagrees and said he will continue to seek advice whenever necessary.

In the afternoon, Biegun plans to meet with Lee Do-hoon, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who has built a partnership since October 2018 while serving as Special Representative for North Korea. They will exchange views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea, ahead of the new U.S. administration’s inauguration. The government expressed gratitude for Biegun’s close cooperation on the Korean Peninsula peace process and is expected to request a smooth handover to ensure close cooperation between the two countries under the Biden administration.

Additionally, Biegun is scheduled to hold meetings with Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, Park Jie-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, and the Blue House’s diplomatic and security officials, with a possibility of meeting President Moon Jae-in. The meeting with Minister Lee is expected to focus on stable management of the Korean Peninsula during the U.S. administration transition rather than sending messages aimed at breakthroughs in North Korea-U.S. negotiations. Unusually, on the 10th, Biegun will also give a public lecture at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

On the 11th, Minister Kang Kyung-wha will host a dinner for Biegun and the U.S. delegation at the diplomatic residence in Hannam-dong. Prior to that, on the 9th, Director-General Lee Do-hoon and on the 10th, Vice Minister Choi Jong-geon will personally oversee Biegun’s dinners. A Foreign Ministry official said, “The Korea-U.S. alliance is so precious that we treat even those leaving after close cooperation in work relationships with kindness,” emphasizing the significance of Biegun’s visit.

Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, are holding talks on the 9th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / December 9, 2020 Photo by Joint Press Corps

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