U.S. President Joe Biden and his new South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol are meeting in Seoul on Saturday to discuss their military alliance, as North Korea threatens to resume its five-year-old nuclear test.
Mr. Biden’s first trip to Asia as president was somewhat overshadowed by what a U.S. official called sound of sword from North Korea, which, according to the White House, could take advantage of this highly publicized moment to test a missile or an atomic bomb.
On our side, we are readythe officer told reporters traveling with Mr. Biden, on condition of anonymity.
South Korean intelligence services have warned that North Korea has already completed preparations to conduct a nuclear test, which will be the seventh in its history and the first in five years. In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price acknowledged that a teasing of Pyongyang is a real danger.
We are worried that the DPRK may try a new provocation during the president’s visit to Northeast Asia or in the next few dayssaid Mr. Price, referring to North Korea by its official acronym (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).
Adding to the uncertainty, North Korea currently faces a major COVID-19 outbreak, with nearly 2.6 million cases and 66 deaths, according to the latest official figures released on Saturday.
How this crisis will affect the military decisions of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is the big unknown that the Americans and South Koreans are trying to clarify.
Either way, the decision on whether or not to conduct a nuclear test will be key in setting the course for U.S.-South Korean relations during President Yoon’s five-year term in office, he told Reuters.AFP the former analyst CIA Soo Kim.
If Kim conducts a trial run on Biden’s visit, he will definitely help both countries find a bigger rationale for cooperation on the North Korea issue.he says.
Arriving in South Korea on Friday, Joe Biden began his day on Saturday by meditating in a cemetery for soldiers who fell during the Korean War (1950-1953).
He would meet with Yoon Suk-yeol, before the joint press conference followed by a state dinner.
While tensions in North Korea and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are at the forefront of talks, Biden’s main goal at Saturday’s summit was to establish a strong personal relationship with Mr. Yoon, who came to power on May 10, the U.S. official said.
A major player in American strategy
Like Japan, South Korea is seen as a major player in the U.S. strategy to contain China and maintain what Washington calls the free and open Indo-Pacific.
The two leaders highlight how similar we are, how similar our perspectives are on a very wide range of topics, how close the two countries are, and how close we expect them to be.said the American official, and added that the same principles had been applied to Japan.
The relationship between Messrs. Biden and Yoon came off a good start in their first interaction on Friday, visiting a Samsung group’s semiconductor factory around Seoul, he added.
In his first public statement upon arrival in South Korea, Mr Biden said the US-South Korea alliance was a pillar of peace, stability and prosperity in the world.
Biden over Samsung’s decision to build a new semiconductor plant in Texas, which will open in 2024.
In the state of Georgia (southern United States), the governor also announced on Friday that South Korean automotive group Hyundai will build a factory for electric vehicles and batteries.
All good news for the Democratic leader, whose party fears losing the midterm elections in November due to discontent among American voters, as prices rise and the economic recovery after COVID is overdue.
Mr. Biden will fly to Japan on Sunday, where he will meet with the Emperor, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and participate in the Quad summit, this diplomatic format that brings together the United States, Japan, India and Australia.
Source: Radio-Canada
