The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. Secretary Blinken reaffirmed that the U.S.-ROK Alliance is the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Secretary Blinken condemned the DPRK’s recent ballistic missile launches, which were in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, highlighted the importance of continued U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, and stressed that U.S. commitment to the defense of the ROK remains ironclad. They also discussed cooperation to achieve the complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. They discussed the need for continued cooperation and urgent action to end the COVID-19 pandemic. The Secretary raised the Burmese military regime’s brutal violence against the people of Burma and the unjust arrest, conviction, and sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi, and confirmed his support for implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus. The Secretary also reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and discussed efforts to deter Russia from further military action or other aggressive acts.
Source: Office of the Spokesperson
