Sherman Meeting with Choi Jong-geon: "Will Discuss Challenges Undermining Norm-Based International Order"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, stated at the Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue that the two countries will discuss coordinated responses to North Korea as well as regional challenges that could undermine the rules-based international order. This suggests a continuation of discussions on China following the recent Korea-U.S.-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

In her opening remarks at the Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue held on the morning of the 23rd at the Seoul Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, Deputy Secretary Sherman said, "We expect to continue discussions on regional challenges that go against the interests of the United States and the Republic of Korea and could undermine the rules-based international order."

The phrase "regional challenges that could undermine the rules-based international order" is interpreted as targeting China. Sherman had revealed that Taiwan and the South China Sea issues were discussed at the Korea-U.S.-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Tokyo on the 21st, indicating that China-related issues will also be discussed at this strategic dialogue.

Deputy Secretary Sherman emphasized, "I will stress the importance of close coordination between the U.S. and South Korea for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," and added, "We also intend to discuss how the two countries can deepen cooperation on quality jobs in areas such as climate change and clean energy." Sherman reiterated that the Korea-U.S. alliance is the lynchpin not only in the Indo-Pacific region but also globally, and highlighted the deep friendship between the two countries.

Vice Foreign Minister Choi stated, "Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, Korea and the U.S. have maintained communication and exchanges without a single day of pause," emphasizing, "This proves that the Korea-U.S. alliance has been upgraded to a healthy alliance where both countries help and support each other."

He continued, "Today, we had in-depth discussions with Deputy Secretary Sherman on alliance issues, regional and global cooperation, and the Korean Peninsula situation, and we hope to steadily implement the matters agreed upon in the joint statement by the two leaders with momentum."

This strategic dialogue is the first to be held under the Biden administration and comes about a year after the last one in July of last year. Given that the Biden administration is pursuing a strategy based on 'dialogue and diplomacy' toward North Korea, it is expected that the meeting will focus on ways to coordinate efforts to diplomatically engage North Korea and bring it to the negotiating table. Additionally, concrete follow-up measures on global vaccine partnerships, new technology cooperation, and the linkage between the New Southern Policy and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, following the Korea-U.S. summit held in May, are also expected to be discussed.

Meanwhile, after concluding the strategic dialogue, Deputy Secretary Sherman will depart in the afternoon via Osan Air Base, visit Mongolia, and then plan to meet with Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, in Tianjin, China on the 25th.

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