On Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans to engage in high-level, face-to-face diplomacy with South Korea’s government, led by Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, who is currently serving as acting president. This announcement has raised expectations for a visit to South Korea by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken or another senior official before the upcoming change in U.S. administration on January 20.
The announcement follows a period of diplomatic delays. Earlier, the U.S. had postponed several important events, including a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting, tabletop exercises, and a scheduled visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to South Korea. These postponements came after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency on December 3. As a result, there have been growing concerns that South Korea’s ongoing political crisis, including the potential impeachment of Yoon, could complicate or disrupt ongoing diplomatic relations with the United States.
At a press briefing in Washington, D.C., Kurt Campbell, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Asia, addressed the situation, stating, “The United States plans to engage in high-level, face-to-face communication with the South Korean government under Acting President Han Duck Soo in the final weeks of the Biden administration.”
Campbell stressed that the U.S. has consistently supported South Korea’s constitutional measures during this uncertain time and expressed confidence in its ability to manage its political challenges. He also praised Acting President Han, highlighting his extensive experience in the South Korean government and his familiarity with the U.S. through his tenure as South Korea’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2012.
“We fully support his role in South Korea,” Campbell continued. “We will continue to send strong signals of deep engagement between our two countries.”
Furthermore, Campbell stated that the U.S. is maintaining open communication with South Korea’s acting government and other key players involved in the current crisis. He suggested that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul actively engage with both the ruling party and opposition leaders in South Korea to ensure all communication channels remain open.