Haines reiterated the U.S. commitment to improving the Korea-U.S. alliance and to working with South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who took over as acting president following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye last Friday. (image: Yonhap)
WASHINGTON/SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The United States has told South Korea that it is looking forward to cooperating with Seoul’s acting president in the wake of the recent parliamentary impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday that Avril Haines, White House deputy national security adviser, delivered the message over the phone to Cho Tae-yong, Seoul’s deputy chief of the National Security Office, on Saturday night.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, Haines reiterated the U.S. commitment to improving the Korea-U.S. alliance and to working with South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who took over as acting president following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye last Friday.
Hwang will remain at the post while the Constitutional Court reviews the case to determine whether to endorse or reject the impeachment. It has 180 days to do so.
Cheong Wa Dae also said Haines stressed that the United States will remain an ally, a friend and a partner for South Korea, and that the two countries will continue to cooperate closely on matters of mutual interest, including North Korea’s nuclear problem.
In Washington, the White House issued a statement on the phone call.
“Haines conveyed that the United States continues to be a steadfast ally, friend, and partner to the ROK, and that we look forward to working with Prime Minister Hwang in his new capacity as acting president of the ROK,” the statement said.
It also said the U.S. anticipates policy consistency and continuity in South Korea.
“The two officials affirmed that the U.S.-ROK alliance will continue to be a linchpin of regional stability and security, and DNSA Haines underscored that the United States will continue to meet all of its alliance commitments, especially regarding defending against the threat from the DPRK,” the statement said.
(Yonhap)
