Speakers Nancy Pelosi, Kim Jin-pyo discuss security alliance, commitment to denuclearization

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo walk into the National Assembly building in Yeouido, western Seoul, Thursday. [NEWS1]

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo on Thursday afternoon and discussed the security alliance between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea.

“Our two countries agreed to support governmental efforts toward the practical denuclearization and peace settlement through international cooperation and diplomatic dialogue,” Kim said in a press briefing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Thursday. “Both sides expressed concerns about the grave situation of rising threats from North Korea.”

Kim and Pelosi also announced that the U.S. and South Korean governments are actively considering belatedly commemorating the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which was in 2020.

ROK is an abbreviation of South Korean's formal name, the Republic of Korea.

Kim additionally praised the U.S. Congress’s passing of laws on supporting semiconductor development last month, and asked for cooperation at the governmental level for Korean companies that have entered the U.S. market.

“Speaker Pelosi and I also discussed legislation for professional visas and granting citizenship to Korean adoptees,” Kim said.

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