Yoon to meet Biden in late April to bolster ROK-US alliance

• Published date: 08 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a state visit to the United States late next month, and hold a summit with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the two countries' alliance and deepen political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties.

The South Korean presidential office said Wednesday that Yoon will travel to the U.S. for a state visit in late April and that a state dinner is slated for April 26. The White House said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-han discussed preparations for the upcoming visit by Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

It will be the first state visit to the U.S. by a South Korean leader in 12 years. The last South Korean head of state to do that was former President Lee Myung-bak, who was invited by then U.S. President Barack Obama in October 2011. Also, Yoon will be the second state guest invited by Biden since his inauguration in January 2021.

Although the purpose of the visit is to enhance the bilateral alliance to deter North Korea's escalating threats, the leaders are also anticipated to discuss tricky issues, such as chip subsidies and regional cooperation to keep China in check.

Seoul is expected to highlight possible uncertainties that its businesses may face in the wake of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and chip subsidies program. On the other hand, Washington is anticipated to use the visit as an opportunity to strengthen its pitch for South Korean companies to stand on the same side in its rivalry against China and show the world the benefits of being America's ally.

Speaking to reporters, Wednesday, Kim said the two countries decided to explore detailed ways to upgrade the alliance's deterrence capabilities against North Korea's nuclear ambitions on the occasion of Yoon's state visit.

"During the state visit, the allies will focus on their basic duty of protecting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula in the face of North Korea's escalating nuclear and missile threats," Kim said.

The U.S. government also expects Yoon's visit to open a new chapter in the bilateral alliance and take the partnership to the next level.

At a daily press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "Under President Biden, we have taken the U.S.-ROK partnership to unprecedented heights in a way that benefits our economies and our people and strengthened deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region."

She added, "The state visit...