Yoon hopes to boost alliance at summit with Biden

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden, right, will hold their first summit on May 21. [YONHAP]

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden will discuss North Korean provocations, economic security, and how to ratchet up the bilateral relationship.

“The leaders of South Korea and the U.S. will talk about strategies for responding to North Korean provocations and ways to manage related situations,” said a presidential office spokesperson on Sunday.

“It is expected that the two countries will coordinate cooperation on issues such as supply chains and emerging technologies with a focus on economic security,” the spokesperson continued. “We will also coordinate on how we can contribute to international issues, and see if there is anything to be arranged between the two countries.”

“It is most important for the two presidents to establish a relationship of trust and to lay the groundwork for the South Korea-U.S. alliance to return to the original track,” the spokesperson added. Conservatives in South Korea blame the Moon Jae-in administration for a deterioration in the alliance.

In particular, the spokesperson said that Yoon intends to elevate the South Korea-U.S. alliance to a higher level than before. At the same time, sharing a vision for a comprehensive strategic alliance and rebuilding a combined defense posture are key goals for the summit.

“We will expand and deepen the work that South Korea and the United States can do together in accordance with the changes in the international situation these days,” the spokesperson said.

In answer to a reporter’s question about whether vaccine aid to North Korea could be on the agenda, the spokesperson replied, “We have established a policy to support vaccines and medicine, and we are waiting to see if North Korea will accept them.”

The South Korea-U.S. summit and press conferences related to it will be held at the presidential office in Yongsan.

“President Biden is the first official foreign guest since the beginning of the 'Yongsan era,'” the spokesperson said. “We are making various preparations related to protocol and schedules.”

“We hope that this summit will be more fruitful than any previous meetings,” the spokesperson said.

Regarding observations that Yoon could be invited to visit the U.S. next month, the spokesperson said that “There is no current schedule for a presidential visit to the U.S. in June.”

Biden’s visit to Korea comes ahead of a U.S.-Japan summit and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad — a U.S.-led cooperative forum with India, Japan and Australia — meeting to be held in Japan. The fact that Biden is visiting Korea before these meetings “shows the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance,” said the spokesperson.

Biden is scheduled to meet with Yoon on May 21, and depart for Japan on May 22.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]