FKI-CSIS Joint Webinar...Korean-American Business Leaders Emphasize Maintaining ROK-US Unity Amid North Korean Challenges

Joint Webinar Hosted by FKI and US CSIS 1 Day Ago

[Asia Economy Reporter Su-yeon Woo] Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, North Korea's fierce provocations have continued, prompting the business communities of South Korea and the United States to unanimously call for a stronger Korea-US alliance. Additionally, there were claims that the scope of the Korea-US alliance should be expanded beyond security to include various fields such as global health, environment, and the energy industry.

On the 1st, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) jointly held an online and offline seminar with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the United States. The event, held simultaneously at the FKI building in Yeouido, Seoul, and via video connection in the US, was organized to discuss major policy directions and South Korea's response strategies with current and former US government officials and experts, marking two months since the Biden administration took office.

CSIS officials attending the event emphasized the importance of the Korea-US security alliance amid escalating global turmoil, including North Korea's recent missile provocations, the US-China conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Victor Cha, CSIS Korea Chair, stated, "At this early stage of the Korea-US alliance between the Biden administration and the Moon Jae-in government, the most important thing is to maintain unity in the face of North Korea's challenges," adding, "The alliance's focus should be directed in a positive and forward-looking manner."

Furthermore, it was proposed that on the solid foundation of this robust Korea-US security alliance, the scope of the alliance should be expanded to various fields including trade issues, space, global health, environmental issues such as climate change, energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These fields are not only areas where both countries have strengths but also industries that can establish global standards. Cooperation in these areas can contribute to the economic development of both countries and the creation of quality jobs for the younger generation.

Matthew Goodman, Deputy Director of CSIS, mentioned, "The priority tasks that the leaders of both countries should discuss first are trade and technological cooperation," while Choi Seok-young, Advisor at the law firm Kwangjang, emphasized, "The Biden administration's policy of prioritizing alliances and norms should be concretized early to upgrade economic and trade cooperation between the two countries."

Meanwhile, at the seminar, Sydney Siler, North Korea Director at the US National Intelligence, attended in person and delivered a closed keynote speech. This was the first time since the Biden administration took office that a US government official directly participated as a speaker at a South Korean business event to express the Biden administration's stance on Korea-US relations and the South Korean economy.

Park Jin, Chairman of the Korea-US Parliamentary Diplomacy Forum, who gave the special address, stated, "For smooth diplomatic and trade development of South Korea amid the US-China conflict, a clear strategic choice centered on the Korea-US alliance and the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement is necessary, while actively communicating with China to minimize conflicts," adding, "To jointly respond to democratic, security, and economic challenges in the region, South Korea needs to join the 'Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)' and develop it into the 'Penta (Pentagonal Security Dialogue)."

Kwon Tae-shin, Vice Chairman of the FKI and host of the event, said, "This year is a very important time as the world expects to overcome COVID-19 and recover the global economy, with the first summit with the new US administration anticipated," and added, "We expect concrete economic cooperation measures to strengthen the alliance to emerge at the upcoming Korea-US summit."

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