South's top diplomat meets U.S. counterpart for first time, says allies 'moving in lockstep' on North

Diplomacy

Published: 29 Feb. 2024, 15:42

South's top diplomat meets U.S. counterpart for first time, says allies 'moving in lockstep' on North

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department in Washington on Wednesday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

Strengthening cooperation between South Korea and the United States in response to North Korea’s continued threats and other challenges was discussed during the first bilateral meeting between the two countries’ top diplomats on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an hourlong meeting in Washington for the first time since Cho’s appointment in January. Cho stressed that South Korea and the United States are “one” and “moving in lockstep” in condemning North Korea’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric and provocations, while Blinken emphasized that the South Korea-U.S. alliance has become stronger on a “bilateral, regional and global” basis.

At the meeting, Cho and Blinken agreed to deal firmly with North Korea’s provocations and heighten efforts to block the regime’s financial gains through illicit activities.

“At a time of heightened North Korean nuclear and missile threats, [South Korea and the U.S.] agreed to sternly deal with North Korea's provocations, continue efforts to block the North's illicit funds and strengthen cooperation on efforts for human rights,” Cho told reporters after the meeting.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other key officials hold a bilateral meeting at the State Department in Washington on Wednesday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

The two allies agreed to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation and the institutionalization of information cooperation, along with bilateral “strategic communication at all levels.”

”We are one in condemning North Korea's increasingly provocative rhetoric and actions that violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including its export of munitions and ballistic missiles to Russia,” Cho said.

Cho also emphasized “historic strides” in trilateral cooperation with Japan, citing last year’s three-way Camp David summit.

“Strengthening our trilateral coordination is essential for addressing common security challenges, promoting stability and enhancing prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” Cho said.

Noting the “extraordinary leadership” South Korea has shown, Blinken expressed gratitude for the two countries’ partnership and expressed hopes for greater opportunities between the allies.

“We are working together on virtually every major challenge that we have to contend with around the world, as well as working together to build even greater opportunities for our people here in the United States and in South Korea,” Blinken said.

While Cho and Blinken also discussed cooperation to respond to various other challenges, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict, the White House declined to comment on whether South Korea should provide 155-millimeter artillery shells to help Ukraine against Russian attacks.

“We are grateful for [South Korea’s] support to Ukraine obviously as they continue to defend against Russia's aggression, but I am not going to speak to their own military decision that is something for them to speak to,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Wednesday.

In response, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said its stance against the provision of weapons to Ukraine remains the same.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul speaks during a meeting with researchers at the think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington on Tuesday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

Cho also met with scholars at the think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Tuesday and outlined a “holistic” approach employing “deterrence, dissuasion and dialogue” on North Korea to bring it to the path of denuclearization.

“On the Korean Peninsula level, [South Korea] will foster an environment to encourage North Korea's return to a denuclearization path through a holistic approach of deterrence, dissuasion and dialogue,” Cho said during the meeting, according to the Foreign Ministry.

South Korea will continue to leave possibilities open for dialogue with North Korea, Cho said.

Researchers from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace heeded the need to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the United States against the possibility of the North's regime using nuclear weapons.

Cho also met with representatives from several companies, including Google, Pfizer and Citibank, on Tuesday and called for American entrepreneurs to “more actively” expand their investment in Korea.

Cho asked for U.S. companies’ support in South Korea hosting upcoming international conferences, such as the Summit for Democracy in March and the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in May, both set to be held in Seoul.

Additionally, Blinken announced Wednesday that he will visit Seoul for the Summit for Democracy event next month.

The event, a U.S.-led multilateral platform meant to promote solidarity among democratic nations, is set to take place from March 18 to 20. Korea is hosting the third session of the summit, first launched virtually by U.S. President Joe Biden in December 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I am grateful to South Korea for hosting the next Summit for Democracy," said Blinken at the start of the talks with Cho Wednesday. "This is something near and dear to the heart of President Biden. We're grateful that you've picked up the torch on the Summit for Democracy, and I very much look forward to being in South Korea and participating.”

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