Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim

January 31, 2023  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will visit New York and Washington, D.C., the United States, from February 1 to 4.

Foreign Minister Park will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Washington, D.C. on February 3.

The upcoming meeting will be their first meeting of this year marking the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance. In the meeting, the two sides will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance, and discuss ways to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance as well as close coordination on North Korea policy.

Foreign Minister Park will also meet with high-level officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and discuss ways to develop the ROK-U.S. alliance into a space alliance.

In addition, Foreign Minister Park will meet with key members of the U.S. Congress and expert communities, and rally the support and cooperation of the U.S. government and the public for further strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance.

Before his visit to Washington, D.C., Foreign Minister Park will visit New York on February 1 and have a working lunch with members of the UN Security Council, in which he will emphasize the united response of the Security Council against provocations by the DPRK.

Following the meeting, Foreign Minister Park will meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and discuss ROK-UN cooperation, issues on the Korean Peninsula, and global issues.

Foreign Minister Park will also host a reception for diplomatic missions to the UN and high-level officials of the UN Secretariat, in which he will solidify the foundation for Korea’s candidature for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term and introduce Korea’s plans for its activities as a member of the Security Council.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)