Clinton Stresses Importance Of Alliance With South Korea
By KUNA
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed on Friday the importance of alliance with South Korea.
Speaking to reporters after her talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan, Clinton said: “We discussed ways that we are strengthening our alliance, which is a linchpin of America’s strategic engagement in the Asia Pacific.”
“Any effort by anyone to drive a wedge between the United States and the Republic of Korea will fail. We consult closely on all aspects of our diplomacy. This will not change,” she added.
Clinton stressed “the importance of coordinating closely with Japan” noting that a trilateral meeting soon between the three countries.
The South Korean foreign minister noted that his country’s strategic alliance with the United States “has been broadening and deepening itself since the adoption of our joint vision for the alliance in 2009.”
“We reaffirmed that our strategic alliance will be expanding its role in dealing with the issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, as well as global issues, on the basis of our common values,” he added.
