Visit to Korea by US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun for Vice Ministerial Talks... Choi Jong-geon Urges "Please Ensure Various Achievements Are Well Carried Over to the Next Administration"

Exchange of Views on Overall Korea-US Relations and Regional/Global Issues
Vice Secretary Biegun: "Korea-US Trust and Cooperation Remain Strong Regardless of Administrative Change"

Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, is holding talks with Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 9th./2020.12.09 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[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-geun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. As this is effectively his last visit before the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration in January next year, both South Korea and the U.S. are expected to focus on ensuring a smooth transition of key issues such as the ROK-U.S. alliance and the Korean Peninsula peace process to the next administration.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Vice Minister Choi held a ROK-U.S. Deputy Foreign Ministers' meeting with Deputy Secretary Biegun at 10 a.m. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Seoul, where they exchanged in-depth views on overall ROK-U.S. relations and regional and global issues of mutual interest. This face-to-face meeting came three months after their last meeting in Washington D.C. in September.

Vice Minister Choi stated, "Over the past two years, the administrations of Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in have achieved many accomplishments, and both countries have embarked on an irreversible journey toward peace on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "North Korea is also aware of this." He further noted that although some view this visit as Deputy Secretary Biegun's last, he disagrees and said he will continue to seek advice whenever necessary.

In particular, Vice Minister Choi highly evaluated the various achievements the two governments have accomplished together, including ▲progress in the Korean Peninsula peace process ▲deepening cooperation linking the New Southern Policy and the Indo-Pacific strategy ▲active exchanges at the parliamentary and academic levels ▲additional declassification of U.S. documents related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising ▲promotion of the return of U.S. military bases in Korea ▲two revisions of missile guidelines ▲and close cooperation in response to COVID-19. He urged that "these diverse achievements be well maintained under the next U.S. administration so that ROK-U.S. relations can further develop."

In response, Deputy Secretary Biegun evaluated, "The achievements made by the ROK and U.S. governments over the past three years are very impressive," adding, "Regardless of the administration change, trust and cooperation between the ROK and U.S. will remain strong, and we will do our best together to ensure stable management of the Korean Peninsula situation and alliance issues."

Both sides also exchanged views on the regional situation and agreed to continue efforts to further strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance as a core pillar of regional peace and prosperity.

In the afternoon, Biegun met 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 serving as Special Representative for North Korea since October 2018, to 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 Deputy Secretary Biegun's close cooperation on the Korean Peninsula peace process and is expected to request a smooth handover to ensure close cooperation between the ROK and U.S. under the Biden administration.

Additionally, Biegun is scheduled to meet 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 situation during the U.S. administration transition rather than sending messages for 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 at the diplomatic residence in Hannam-dong for Deputy Secretary Biegun and the U.S. delegation. Earlier, on the 9th, Director Lee Do-hoon, and on the 10th, Vice Minister Choi Jong-geun will personally attend to Biegun's dinner. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "The ROK-U.S. alliance is so precious that we have cooperated closely in our work and even treat those who are leaving with kindness," emphasizing the significance of Deputy Secretary Biegun's visit.

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

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