South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives in Washington D.C. today. It is the first state visit by a South Korean president in 12 years, as the two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
The two countries are looking to take their bilateral relationship to the next level with the summit. The visit will be accompanied by a 122-member economic delegation to strengthen the high-tech alliance.
Yoon will discuss ways to attract local businesses and investment through the South Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable and the U.S.-South Korea High Tech Forum. On April 26, an official welcome ceremony and the U.S.-South Korea summit will be held at the White House. Strengthening deterrence of North Korea’s expansion, economic and security cooperation, support for future generation exchanges, and coordination on global issues are among the key agenda topics. In the evening, President Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner for President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
On April 27, Yoon will address a joint session of Congress. Yoon is expected to deliver a 30-minute speech in English in which he will review the 70-year history of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, assess the challenges facing the alliance, and present a blueprint for the future of the alliance. After his state visit, Yoon will return to South Korea on April 29.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [support@koreadaily.com]
