Minister Cho Tae-yeol Meets with U.S. Congressman Wilson: "Economic and Security Complex Crisis... Importance of the ROK-U.S. Alliance"

by Mun Jewon

Published 26 Jan.2024 16:22(KST)

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol is shaking hands with U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, who is visiting Korea on the 26th. (Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol met with U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, who is visiting Korea on the 26th, and exchanged views on the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, North Korea and the North Korean nuclear issue, and regional situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Minister Cho met with Congressman Wilson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in the afternoon and evaluated that the bilateral relationship has been significantly strengthened in all areas including security, economy, advanced technology, and people-to-people exchanges on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance last year, expressing hope that the Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to develop.

He also expressed gratitude for the strong support message for the Korea-U.S. alliance at the congressional level, including the evaluation of the "Washington Declaration" in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). He requested Congressman Wilson, a leading expert on diplomacy and military affairs in the U.S. Congress and a supporter of the Korea-U.S. alliance, to maintain his continued interest.

Minister Cho explained the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development and provocations, and Russia-North Korea military cooperation, emphasizing the need to firmly respond to North Korea's provocations and threats under close Korea-U.S. and Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation. He also urged efforts to improve the human rights situation in North Korea.

Minister Cho said that cooperation between Korea and the U.S. is more important than ever to respond to the global complex crisis that combines economy, security, and technology. He evaluated that Korean companies operating in the U.S., including in Congressman Wilson's district of South Carolina, contribute to the promotion of mutual interests of both countries. He also emphasized the legislative need for a professional visa quota bill to facilitate their smooth activities and resolve issues related to the supply of professional manpower.

Congressman Wilson confirmed that military, security, and economic cooperation between Korea and the U.S. is further developing and said that bipartisan support for the Korea-U.S. alliance within the U.S. Congress is becoming stronger. He agreed on the need for legislation on the professional visa quota bill and emphasized that the U.S. Congress will continue to support the Korean government's efforts to respond to the increasing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

Congressman Wilson is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee and is known to have a strong interest in the Korea-U.S. alliance, the Korean Peninsula issue, and Korea-U.S. economic cooperation. He serves as co-chair of the Korea Caucus (a group of U.S. lawmakers interested in Korea) within the U.S. Congress. He visited Korea as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' invitation program for federal lawmakers.