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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan during the latter’s visit to Seoul on June 3. (Blue House photo pool)
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Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visits Blue House
South Korean President Moon Jae-in stressed on June 3 that the South Korea-US alliance is “of paramount importance in achieving the complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue.” Meeting at the Blue House that day with Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, Moon expressed his hope for “support through a strong South Korea-US alliance so that the Korean Peninsula peace process is successful,” Blue House Spokesperson Ko Min-jung reported. “President Moon and Acting Secretary Shanahan reaffirmed that sanctions on North Korea must remain in place until there is meaningful process in achieving the goal of denuclearization,” Ko said. “President Moon explained about the need for reunions among divided family members as well as food and other humanitarian aid and asked that the two sides hold close discussions and coordination to achieve this,” she added. Moon also emphasized that the reduction in military tensions on the peninsula and advancement of inter-Korean relations contribute to the denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington. A Blue House official reported that there were “discussions on how humanitarian food idea might present a solution to various issues.” “There was no mention at all of the issue of [North Korea’s recent short-range] missile launches,” the official added. In response, Shanahan reportedly expressed his “ironclad” faith in the South Korea-US Alliance, adding that the maintenance of a robust combined defense posture was contributing to establishing diplomatic progress on a peaceful resolution of Korean Peninsula issues. He also reportedly inquired about a “peace trail” recently opened to the public by the South Korean government in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The meeting lasted approximately 40 minutes. By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
