US President Joe BidenUS President Joe Biden left Washington DC on the 19th (local time) to visit South Korea and Japan one after another.
Biden’s visits to Korea and Japan are the first since taking office in January last year.
Air Force One, the presidential plane carrying President Biden on board, is scheduled to land at the U.S. military base in Osan on the afternoon of the 20th (Korean time).
President Biden, who will also be visiting Asia for the first time, will stay in Korea for 3 days and 2 nights until the 22nd, then move to Japan, the next stop, and stay until the 24th.
President Biden’s visit to South Korea will take place 10 days after Yoon’s inauguration.
President Biden begins his official visit to Korea by visiting Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, immediately after arriving at the Osan Base.
With economic security in mind, including the global supply chain, President Yoon will accompany the event, and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will lead the two leaders.
President Yoon Seok-yeol (right) and US President Joe BidenThen, on the second day of his visit to Korea, on the 21st, President Biden held his first summit meeting with President Yoon at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul.
As a result, President Yoon will be the first Korean president in history to sit on the chair for a summit meeting with the US leader as soon as he takes office.
The summit is scheduled for 90 minutes in the order of small-group talks, friendly talks, and extended talks.
Afterwards, the two leaders hold a joint press conference in the auditorium of the government building and announce the results of the talks.
At this meeting, with the strengthening of the ROK-U.S. alliance as the basic axis, agendas such as response to the North Korean nuclear program, economic security, and regional cooperation are expected to rise to the table.
The ROK and the United States expect that the alliance, which has been centered on security, will be expanded to include economic security as well as an opportunity to advance into a comprehensive strategic alliance.
In particular, the summit is more tense than ever since North Korea is likely to launch an additional ICBM or test a nuclear weapon during or immediately after President Biden’s visit.
North Korea has conducted armed protests this year alone, testing missiles 16 times, including ICBMs.
North Korean missile test launch (CG)White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at a briefing on the 18th that he had clear information showing the possibility that North Korea could conduct a nuclear test or an ICBM test and that it was preparing for any emergency.
South Korean authorities, such as the National Intelligence Service, also explained that North Korea has completed preparations for a nuclear test and an ICBM launch, and that North Korea is only looking at the timing of its implementation.
Therefore, the North Korean issue is expected to be the top priority at this summit.
President Yoon as well as President Biden actively engage in dialogue with North Korea, but maintain a stance that they will not tolerate provocations.
However, given that the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading in North Korea, it is expected that there will be discussions on humanitarian aid to North Korea such as vaccines and medical supplies.
After the summit, President Biden will attend a welcome dinner hosted by President Yoon at the National Museum of Korea. The heads of the top 10 domestic groups will also be present here.
It is reported that President Biden will make his final visit to Korea by visiting Osan Air Base on the morning of the 22nd, the third day of his visit to Korea and encouraging Korean and American soldiers.
The visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which was originally discussed, was not included this time, the White House explained, as he had already visited during the vice president’s office.
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio KishidaPresident Biden then moved to Japan, where he stayed for three days and two nights until the 24th.
After a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 23rd, President Biden will attend the Quad Summit on the 24th. It is the second time since September last year that the Quad Summit, which is a consultative body for checks against China between the United States, Japan, Australia and India, will be held face-to-face.
During his visit to Japan, President Biden also officially announced the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), an economic consultative body that brings together countries in the region to block China’s economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
In effect, President Biden’s visit to Japan was designed to contain China.
Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore are expected to join the US-led IPEF, and the Philippines and Malaysia are also mentioned as potential countries to join.
President Yoon is expected to attend the IPEF inauguration summit via video.
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