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First lady Kim Jung-sook (right) exchanges greetings with U.S. second lady Karen Pence at the Decatur House in Washington, D.C., on May 22.

By Lee Hana
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

First lady Kim Jung-sook, visiting the U.S. alongside President Moon Jae-in, met with U.S. second lady Karen Pence at the Decatur House in Washington, D.C., on May 22.

This was the third meeting between the two women. They first met during President Moon’s visit to the U.S. last June at a luncheon held at the vice presidential residence. They met again during the Opening Ceremony for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games when the second lady visited Korea alongside Vice President Mike Pence.

During their afternoon together, the two enjoyed an exhibit at the Decatur House, a historic house museum and one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, D.C. They had lunch on the second floor of the house, while listening to a harp performance.

The first lady said, “Since the last time we saw each other in Pyeongchang, we’ve seen the launch of the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit. The U.S.-North Korea summit is around the corner, too. It seems we have an opportunity to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

“I want to thank President Trump and the first lady, as well as you and Vice President Pence, for supporting these efforts with such resolution,” she added.

In response, the second lady said that the vice president’s father had served in the Korean War, and that she vividly remembers her visit to the DMZ. “I hope that peace will arrive on the Korean Peninsula. Let us pray for the two Koreas,” she said.

Finally, the first lady wished Melania Trump a speedy recovery following a recent procedure to treat a kidney condition.

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First lady Kim Jung-sook looks around the interior of Decatur House in Washington, D.C., with U.S. second lady Karen Pence on May 22.

 

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Following their luncheon at Decatur House, U.S. second lady Karen Pence and first lady Kim Jung-sook take a stroll outside on May 22.

hlee10@korea.kr