1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun held the ninth ROK-U.S. Vice Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue on July 23 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman, who is visiting Korea. The Vice Minister and the Deputy Secretary extensively discussed issues including bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as regional and global affairs.

o This Strategic Dialogue is the second in-person meeting between the Vice Minister and the Deputy Secretary, which came about a month and a half after the ROK-U.S Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Washington D.C.

2. The Vice Minister and the Deputy Secretary recognized that the ROK-U.S. Leaders’ Joint Statement adopted on the occasion of the recent bilateral summit envisions a clear path forward for the ROK-U.S. Alliance in the post-COVID-19 21st century, and committed to continuously and strongly implementing what had been agreed to in the Joint Statement in order to continue to evolve the ROK-U.S. Alliance as the linchpin of regional peace, security and prosperity.

3. The Vice Minister and the Deputy Secretary reaffirmed that dialogue and engagement efforts with North Korea are essential to achieving substantial progress toward complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and committed to continuing coordinated diplomatic efforts between the two countries at each level to bring North Korea back to dialogue.

o In particular, both sides acknowledged the need for promoting inter-Korean dialogue, engagement and cooperation as agreed to in the ROK-U.S. Summit, and agreed to make joint efforts to this end.

4. Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman appreciated that the ROK and the U.S. are expanding parameters of cooperation to a wide range of regions including ASEAN, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and committed to close cooperation based on shared values of the two countries in responding to global challenges including climate change and health. 

o The Vice Minister and the Deputy Secretary shared concerns about the current situation in Myanmar and agreed to continue cooperation and communication for Myanmar’s return to democracy and recovery of peace and stability.

o Also, both sides committed to continuing efforts to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine dissemination around the world based on the ROK-U.S. Vaccine Partnership which had been agreed to in the ROK-U.S. Summit.