Blinken begins two-day visit to Seoul on Wednesday

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Blinken begins two-day visit to Seoul on Wednesday

Published: 08 Nov. 2023, 16:34 Updated: 09 Nov. 2023, 09:26

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves from the plane as he arrives at the Osan AIr Base in Gyeonggi on Wednesday evening. [YONHAP]

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a two-day visit on Wednesday.

This visit marks Blinken's first trip to South Korea since the Yoon Suk Yeol government took office in May last year.

Additionally, this would be Blinken's first visit in nearly three years since his last visit to Seoul in March 2021 during the Moon Jae-in government.

The latest visit takes place at a critical juncture, with two significant conflicts underway — one in the Middle East and the other between Ukraine and Russia.

Despite United Nations sanctions against North Korea, reports indicate that weapons manufactured in Pyongyang were used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during its incursion into Israel.

Pyongyang is also suspected of supplying artillery to Moscow, which is being used against Ukrainian forces, in exchange for advanced missile and satellite technology.

"We're deeply concerned about what Russia is providing Pyongyang in return for the weapons and munitions that it's getting from Pyongyang," Blinken told the press in Tokyo earlier on Wednesday.

Blinken said his visits to Tokyo and Seoul serve as "evidence" that the United States, while focused on the crisis in Gaza, remains engaged in and committed to the Indo-Pacific region.

During his official schedule in Seoul, which starts on Thursday, Blinken is expected to meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, as well as other top government officials, including Foreign Minister Park Jin and National Security Director Cho Tae-yong.

Blinken and Cho have a history of working together as counterparts during their respective roles in the Barack Obama and Park Geun-hye administrations.

An official in the diplomatic community has said that Blinken's visit underscores the Joe Biden administration's commitment to prioritizing the alliance with South Korea.

It is also seen as a move to deter potential threats from North Korea, which may seek to exploit the current tumultuous situation.

North Korea's provocations, including the imminent launch of a satellite rocket, which will be its third attempt this year, could add further pressure to the U.S. military, which is already stretched due to the Middle East conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and provocations from the Chinese military in the South China Sea.

Last month, a Chinese fighter jet flew within 3 meters (10 feet) of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber.

South Korea and the United States have been strengthening ties between the two countries, especially this year as it marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance.

Earlier this year, Yoon was invited to the White House as a state guest. In August, he was invited to Camp David for a meeting with President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Yoon's state visit marked the first such visit in 12 years since President Lee Myung-bak's invitation by President Obama.

It was also the first time a Korean president had been invited to Camp David in 15 years, following Lee.

Civic groups, including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, protest against U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken's visit to Korea in front of the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Several civic groups on Wednesday held a protest against Blinken’s visit in front of the U.S. Embassy in downtown Seoul.

The civic groups, including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, demanded that the United States stop “funding genocide.”

Accusing Israel of killing more than 10,000 people in Gaza, the civic group claimed that the majority of victims are women, children and elderly.

The protesters criticized the United States for vetoing the cease-fire proposed by the UN and for providing military aid to Israel used to kill Palestinians.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]