Korea-US Southeast Asia Policy Dialogue Discusses 'Strengthening Cooperation on Indo-Pacific Strategy'

US Honolulu, 2nd Korea-US Southeast Asia Policy Dialogue
Strengthening Southeast Asia Partnership as a Key Pillar of Indo-Pacific Strategy

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] On the 12th (local time), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 2nd Korea-US Southeast Asia Policy Dialogue with the US Department of State in Honolulu, discussing ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on Indo-Pacific strategy.

At the meeting attended by Jeong Eui-hye, Director General for ASEAN Affairs, Mark Lambert, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the US Department of State, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeong Park, both sides reviewed Korea-US cooperation in the Southeast Asian region since the 1st meeting held in February.

Southeast Asia is one of the key regions where the US is focusing efforts to check China's influence.

Korea is also emphasizing strengthening partnerships with Southeast Asia as a core pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

At the meeting, they shared recognition of the strategic importance of Southeast Asia, located at a geopolitical juncture connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation for infectious disease response in the region by co-hosting the Indo-Pacific Vaccine Cooperation Forum in Seoul on December 7, jointly organized by Korea, the US, and Australia.

Meanwhile, amid rising instability and uncertainty in the region due to the Ukraine war and the Myanmar situation, both sides also agreed on the need to reinforce a rules-based multilateral order in the Indo-Pacific region.

They emphasized that at ASEAN-related summits such as the East Asia Summit in November, the international community must send a clear message of unity that it will not tolerate North Korea's nuclear development.

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