Jung Eui-yong Meets Blinken: "Hope for Progress in the Korean Peninsula Peace Process" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, who visited Korea for the South Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers (2+2) meeting, and Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who met for talks, expressed hope that "this meeting will serve as an opportunity to advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula."

Minister Chung met with Secretary Blinken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 17th and said, "I hope that today's meeting will lead to the South Korea-U.S. relationship developing into a healthier and mutually beneficial comprehensive alliance."

Secretary Blinken will hold a separate meeting with Minister Chung on the same day ahead of the 2+2 meeting on the 18th. Minister Chung stated, "The South Korea-U.S. alliance is the foundation of our diplomacy and a key axis for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world. The continuous development of the alliance is the most important task of our diplomacy," adding, "I especially welcome the fact that the new U.S. administration's Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State visited Korea together early in their term."

He also evaluated the conclusion of the defense cost-sharing negotiations as a reaffirmation of the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and conveyed that "President Moon also positively assessed the direction of the South Korea-U.S. relationship development since the inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration."

Minister Chung referred to the telephone conversation between the South Korean and U.S. presidents in February, saying, "Following the South Korea-U.S. 2+2 meeting, I hope a South Korea-U.S. summit will be held in the near future to continue the momentum of the relationship's development," and added, "I also hope that the results of today's meeting will firmly establish the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and serve as an opportunity to move toward substantial progress."

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