Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed a wide range of issues and how to deal with them in a more unified manner at a meeting held on January 7 at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.
During the talks, the two sides discussed ways to enhance the two nations’ cooperation on issues including working for peace across Northeast Asia, the Korea-U.S. bilateral nuclear energy pact and strengthened defense capability.
“Kerry and I agreed to step up the effort to intensify our coordination to better cope with the growing uncertainty in Northeast Asia and to cooperate on peace in the region,” the foreign minister said at a joint press conference following the talks.
Regarding the situation in North Korea, Yun stressed, “We concurred on the need to boost bilateral consultations to assess North Korea’s uncertain conditions and our policy options to better deal with them.”
The two allies, he also mentioned, agreed to get more closely involved in Pyongyang’s denuclearization. “Korea and the U.S. will place the nuclear issue high on the agenda with the goal of achieving sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Yun said as he put great emphasis on the two allies’ strategic cooperation.
As for Korea’s impending joining of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement between 12 Pacific nations including the U.S. and the original four members of Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, the minister said, “Both sides believe that Korea joining the TPP will help solidify the economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region. We will make sure to consult more actively in this regard.”
Meanwhile, Kerry, too, welcomed the idea of Korea participating in the TPP trade agreement, saying, “This will lay a firm foundation for an improved level of trade and prosperity in Korea.”
He also noted that the two countries remain aligned on North Korean issues, stressing that, “The U.S. and Seoul stand very firmly united, without an inch of daylight between us on the subject of opposition to North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its proliferation activities.”
Citing the North’s denuclearization as the most important goal, Kerry also affirmed that, “The U.S. will sternly respond to any provocation based on our robust, modernized defense posture.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
jiae5853@korea.kr
During the talks, the two sides discussed ways to enhance the two nations’ cooperation on issues including working for peace across Northeast Asia, the Korea-U.S. bilateral nuclear energy pact and strengthened defense capability.
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (left) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hold a joint press conference following their meeting on January 7 in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
“Kerry and I agreed to step up the effort to intensify our coordination to better cope with the growing uncertainty in Northeast Asia and to cooperate on peace in the region,” the foreign minister said at a joint press conference following the talks.
Regarding the situation in North Korea, Yun stressed, “We concurred on the need to boost bilateral consultations to assess North Korea’s uncertain conditions and our policy options to better deal with them.”
The two allies, he also mentioned, agreed to get more closely involved in Pyongyang’s denuclearization. “Korea and the U.S. will place the nuclear issue high on the agenda with the goal of achieving sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Yun said as he put great emphasis on the two allies’ strategic cooperation.
As for Korea’s impending joining of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement between 12 Pacific nations including the U.S. and the original four members of Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, the minister said, “Both sides believe that Korea joining the TPP will help solidify the economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region. We will make sure to consult more actively in this regard.”
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (left) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shake hands after a joint press conference on January 7. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Meanwhile, Kerry, too, welcomed the idea of Korea participating in the TPP trade agreement, saying, “This will lay a firm foundation for an improved level of trade and prosperity in Korea.”
He also noted that the two countries remain aligned on North Korean issues, stressing that, “The U.S. and Seoul stand very firmly united, without an inch of daylight between us on the subject of opposition to North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its proliferation activities.”
Citing the North’s denuclearization as the most important goal, Kerry also affirmed that, “The U.S. will sternly respond to any provocation based on our robust, modernized defense posture.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
jiae5853@korea.kr
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