Korea-U.S. Vice Foreign Ministers Review Investment Ahead of Security Talks... Support for Visa Issues

South Korea-U.S. Summit Agreement JFS Gains Momentum After About Seven Months

Park Yoonjoo, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is currently visiting the United States, met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on May 20 (local time) to review the progress of South Korea’s investment in the U.S. Security-related negotiations, including those on nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear energy cooperation, are expected to begin in earnest as early as next month. It appears that the follow-up measures to the South Korea-U.S. presidential agreement from October of last year are finally gaining momentum after roughly seven months.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 21, Vice Minister Park held discussions with Deputy Secretary Landau and assessed that bilateral consultations on investments in the U.S. are progressing smoothly. Both agreed that the release of the Joint Factsheet (JFS) from the South Korea-U.S. summit stands as the most significant diplomatic achievement in the year since the launch of the Lee Jaemyung administration, and that it is the best means to address the shared challenges faced by both countries amid international security and economic uncertainties. They also agreed to make efforts to ensure the successful kickoff meeting for follow-up negotiations in the security sector, which is scheduled to take place in Seoul as early as next month.

Improving visa issues is essential for advancing investment cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. Vice Minister Park expressed his appreciation to Deputy Secretary Landau for his attention to and willingness to resolve this matter. Deputy Secretary Landau responded by saying that he is fully aware of the significant contribution Korean companies’ investments make to the revitalization of the U.S. economy and manufacturing, and pledged to continue his support and interest.

After the unprecedented incident last September in which over 300 Korean workers were detained in Georgia, the U.S. and South Korea have operated a visa working group. It appears that both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the scope of visas and ensuring that skilled professionals can legally reside in the U.S.

The two vice ministers also exchanged in-depth views on global issues and the current situation, including the Middle East, the recent summit between the U.S. and China, and the supply chain for critical minerals. Vice Minister Park agreed on the importance of safe and free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides agreed to maintain prompt communication in the event of pending issues between South Korea and the U.S., and to coordinate high-level communications on various occasions over the next two to three months.

Meanwhile, during his visit to the U.S., Vice Minister Park also met with Elbridge Colby, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (War Department), to discuss key issues related to the South Korea-U.S. alliance and discuss the global situation, including the Middle East. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the alliance and discussed ways to further develop it in a mutually beneficial and future-oriented direction. They also discussed the implementation of security-related agreements, including those on nuclear-powered submarines. Furthermore, both sides agreed to maintain a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and to continue cooperating for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

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