S. Korea-U.S. alliance will ‘incessantly’ strengthen regardless of who wins U.S. election: Seoul envoy


South Korea’s top envoy to the United States expressed confidence Tuesday that the alliance between Seoul and Washington will strengthen “incessantly” through the allies’ “institutionalized” cooperation irrespective of who wins the White House in November.

Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong made the remarks as U.S. President Joe Biden is set to face former President Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election amid speculation that Trump’s return to the top office could potentially bring a foreign policy shift.

“Regardless of the election outcome. the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to strengthen incessantly along the line of institutionalized cooperation,” Cho said during a meeting with South Korean correspondents.

He was apparently referring to cooperation frameworks between Seoul and Washington that have been deeply entrenched to ensure close-knit coordination on security and other issues.

Cho underscored that the South Korea government and his embassy are making sufficient preparations for “any situation,” whil
e noting the broadening scope of the bilateral alliance.

“The South Korea-U.S. alliance has already evolved into one that contributes to the global community beyond the confines of the Korean Peninsula,” he said. “All staff of the embassy will make efforts to contribute to the alliance and its future-oriented development.”

During a press meeting in Seoul last month, Cho said that the overall direction of the alliance will not change no matter who wins in the presidential election, as he stressed that the breadth and depth of the alliance has never been greater,

Source: Yonhap News Agency