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Korea-U.S. alliance will strengthen regardless of U.S. election outcome: Ambassador

Published: 15 May. 2024, 11:49 Updated: 15 May. 2024, 13:08

SARAH KIM
[email protected]

Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong speaks during a press conference in Washington Tuesday. [YONHAP]

South Korea's top envoy to the United States expressed confidence Tuesday that the alliance between Seoul and Washington will strengthen "incessantly" through the allies' "institutionalized" cooperation irrespective of who wins the White House in November.

Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong made the remarks as U.S. President Joe Biden is set to face former President Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election amid speculation that Trump's return to the top office could potentially bring a foreign policy shift.

"Regardless of the election outcome, the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to strengthen incessantly along the line of institutionalized cooperation," Cho said during a meeting with South Korean correspondents.

He was apparently referring to cooperation frameworks between Seoul and Washington that have been deeply entrenched to ensure close-knit coordination on security and other issues.

Cho underscored that the South Korean government and his embassy are making sufficient preparations for "any situation," while noting the broadening scope of the bilateral alliance.

"The South Korea-U.S. alliance has already evolved into one that contributes to the global community beyond the confines of the Korean Peninsula," he said. "All staff of the embassy will make efforts to contribute to the alliance and its future-oriented development."

Meanwhile, the South Korean Embassy in Washington is said to be making efforts to communicate with those close to Trump amid speculation that the former president could consider a drawdown of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) or demand a hefty increase in Seoul's USFK contributions.

Last month, Time magazine reported in an interview article that Trump had suggested the United States could withdraw USFK if South Korea did not make more financial contributions to support the troops.

Yonhap

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]