NEW YORK — The recent detention of South Korean nationals in Georgia, USA, was placed at the forefront of bilateral discussions this week, with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, personally assuring his South Korean counterpart that the matter would be treated as a "top priority" within the U.S. government.
South Korea's Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, met with Deputy Secretary Landau on September 26 (local time) in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly High-Level Week. The central focus of their talks was securing a resolution to the detention crisis and implementing concrete follow-up measures, including crucial improvements to the visa system.
Swift Action on Detention Fallout and Visa Reform
Minister Cho expressed Seoul's expectation for "visible and substantive measures" to prevent a recurrence of the detention incident, emphasizing the need for the swift launch of a Korea-U.S. Visa Working Group. He also stressed that the Korean nationals who had returned home following the incident must not face any disadvantages when seeking to re-enter the U.S. in the future.
Deputy Secretary Landau, in turn, reiterated his "deep regret" over the incident. He highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that President Donald Trump is taking a keen interest, which ensures the issue will be handled with the highest priority and significance within the U.S. administration. Landau promised to personally oversee the matter and expedite the follow-up measures mentioned by Minister Cho, including the establishment of the bilateral Visa Working Group and recurrence prevention efforts. He added that some measures that can be rapidly implemented will be enforced soon.
The U.S. Department of State later affirmed the importance of Korean investment in supporting American reindustrialization, confirming that both sides welcomed plans to convene a bilateral working group to facilitate travel and investment.
Bilateral Cooperation and Economic Dialogue
Beyond the detention issue, the two officials addressed the robust high-level exchanges between the two nations, including discussions related to President Trump’s planned visit to South Korea during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in October.
Minister Cho also urged Deputy Secretary Landau to lend his special attention to securing advanced progress in strategic cooperation sectors, such as shipbuilding, nuclear power, and advanced technology, areas that were key topics at the August Korea-U.S. Presidential Summit.
On tariff negotiations, Minister Cho articulated South Korea's stance, calling for a "win-win" outcome based on reasonable results. Deputy Secretary Landau acknowledged that while economic authorities lead the tariff talks, he would ensure that Seoul’s position is well-considered internally within the U.S. government.
In closing, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continued close coordination on efforts to alleviate tensions and build peace on the Korean Peninsula, underscoring the enduring spirit of the U.S.-ROK Alliance.
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