South Korean president hails ‘return of diplomacy’ in first meeting with Biden officials

US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin are in Seoul on their first international trip since President Biden took office

South Korean president Moon Jae-in with US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defense secretary Lloyd Austin before their meeting in Seoul on 18 March, 2021 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

South Korean president Moon Jae-in welcomed what he called “the return of diplomacy” and the restoration of the alliance with the United States during a meeting with Biden administration officials on Thursday. 

US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin are on their first international trip since President Biden took office in January. They visited Japan before coming to Seoul. 

Mr Moon told the US diplomats that he looked “forward to US leadership in the midst of complex crises” and the two countries will work together for a complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. 

“Having been a partner for seven decades, sharing values and philosophy on democracy and human rights, ROK (the Republic of Korea) and the US will continue to act together on shared challenges, including a thorough cooperation for a complete denuclearisation and permanent peace in the Korean Peninsula,” he was quoted as saying by CNN. 

Mr Blinken had earlier underscored the challenge posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons. In his meeting with South Korea’s minister of foreign affairs Chung Eui-yong, he had said “North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, which are a threat to the region and to the world,” are a shared challenge. 

“We’ll continue to work together with the ROK and other allies and partners, including Japan, toward denuclearisation of the DPRK (North Korea—or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).”

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He also said on Thursday that both pressure and diplomatic options are on the table for dealing with North Korea, according to Reuters. His comments came just hours after a North Korean official rejected any negotiations till the US changed its policies. 

Mr Blinken also urged China to use its influence to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. He was speaking after holding security talks in which Mr Austin, Mr Chung and South Korea’s defence minister Suh Wook also participated.