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President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at a Cabinet meeting held on March 7 at the presidential office in Yongsan. (Yonhap)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold a summit with US President Joe Biden during a state visit to the US on April 26.

Kim Eun-hye, Yoon’s senior secretary for public relations, told the press in a written statement on Tuesday evening that Yoon will be paying a state visit to the US at the end of April on Biden’s invitation.

“President Yoon’s state visit to the US, which is taking place on the historic 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance, will be the first state visit to the US by a South Korean president since 2011, 12 years ago. President Yoon will also be the second national guest to visit the US since President Biden took office,” said Kim.

ROK stands for Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.

“President Yoon and President Biden are expected to celebrate the accomplishments of the ROK-US alliance and hold an in-depth discussion of options for future development during events including a state dinner scheduled for April 26.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement released at the same time that the visit will include a state dinner.

Yoon and Biden’s summit will be held earlier on the day of the state dinner, a high-ranking official in Yoon’s presidential office said.

“We expect the two presidents will be able to identify concrete and practical forms of cooperation in various areas including our combined defense posture, extended deterrence, advanced future technology, economic security, cultural and people-to-people exchange and regional and international challenges based on the results of discussions at ROK-US summits held in May and November of last year,” Kim said.

“President Yoon’s state visit to the US will be a historical opportunity for the ROK-US alliance, which is regarded as one of the most successful alliances in history, to adapt ever more proactively to rapid geopolitical changes and future uncertainty. We expect that they will be able to realize a ‘ROK-US alliance in action’ to safeguard the lives and safety of people in both countries, protect our key values and promote the prosperity of future generations.”

The presidential office underlined that “ROK-US alliance in action, advancing into the future” has been chosen as the theme of Yoon’s state visit to the US.

Kim Sung-han, director of South Korea’s National Security Office, is currently in Washington to hammer out the details of the itinerary.

By Kim Mi-na, staff reporter

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