Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on April 8 holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump over the phone at Government-Complex Seoul. (Prime Minister’s Office)
By Kang Gahui
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on April 8 held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on reinforcement of the bilateral alliance, economic cooperation like the trade balance and North Korea’s nuclear program.
The 30-minute talks were the first between the leaders of both sides since the second Trump administration took office.
Acting President Han said, “I hope the bilateral alliance with the U.S., the backbone of our diplomacy and security, can be further expanded and bolstered under the new U.S. administration.”
He delivered Seoul’s commitment to raising cooperation with Washington in three major sectors: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas and the trade balance.
For a win-win solution, both sides agreed to continue ministerial-level consultations in a constructive manner in economic cooperation including the trade balance.
On North Korea’s nuclear program, Acting President Han said, “Amid the grave security threats posed by North Korea’s heightened development of its nuclear and missile capacities, we must clearly show the intent of the Republic of Korea, the U.S. and the international community toward denuclearization surpasses that of the North to possess nuclear arms.”
President Trump agreed with this, and both leaders pledged to keep up close cooperation in policy toward Pyeongyang.
The Prime Minister’s Office in Seoul said both sides recognized the importance of trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and agreed to continue reinforcing the three-way partnership.
kgh89@korea.kr
