[South Korea-US Summit] Yoon and Biden Meet Today to Discuss 'North Korea Nuclear, Economic Security, and Regional Cooperation'

Biden's First Schedule Begins with Visit to National Cemetery
Joint Declaration Announced After 90-Minute Summit
Dinner Venue is National Museum of Korea

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the second day of his visit to Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold the first Korea-US summit meeting with US President Joe Biden on the afternoon of the 21st at the Yongsan Presidential Office.

President Biden will begin his official schedule for the second day of his visit by visiting the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, where he will lay a wreath and pay respects at the Memorial Tower.

He will then move to the Yongsan Presidential Office building to start talks with President Yoon. The meeting will last 90 minutes, proceeding in the order of a small-group meeting, informal talks, and an expanded meeting in the office on the 5th floor of the building. The key agenda items include strengthening the Korea-US security alliance, responding to North Korea’s nuclear threat, as well as economic security and regional cooperation.

Afterwards, a joint press conference for Korean and US media will be held in the auditorium on the basement first floor. A Korea-US joint declaration will also be announced at this conference.

The two leaders reached a consensus to advance the Korea-US alliance from a military and security alliance to an economic and technological alliance after jointly inspecting Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek semiconductor campus the previous day. Regarding technology, cooperation and securing supply chains related to semiconductors, batteries, and other technologies attracting attention in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution are core interests for both countries.

With North Korea’s 7th nuclear test and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch reportedly imminent, plans to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea are also expected to be intensively discussed.

After the talks, a welcoming dinner hosted by President Yoon will be held at the National Museum of Korea near the Yongsan Presidential Office building. The dinner will be attended by heads of Korea’s top 10 conglomerates. It is also suggested that First Lady Kim Keon-hee may greet President Biden at the dinner.

On the last day of his visit, the morning of the 22nd, President Biden will meet with Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. An announcement related to the establishment of an electric vehicle factory in the US is expected.

He will then visit the Korea Air and Space Operations Center (KAOC) under the Air Force Operations Command in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, to encourage the troops conducting Korea-US joint operations.

President Yoon is expected to accompany him to Osan and then see off President Biden, who will depart for Japan in the afternoon of the same day.

President Biden will attend the Quad summit meeting in Japan, a consultative body of four countries: the US, Japan, Australia, and India, and hold a US-Japan summit with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He will then attend the inaugural summit of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). President Yoon is also expected to participate via video conference in the IPEF launch, expressing his intention to take a leading role in regional cooperation.

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