Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Macron says Israeli PM's measures on Gaza 'unacceptable' and 'shameful'
Yemeni Armed Forces: Companies that have not announced the suspension of their flights should follow in the footsteps of those who did, suspending flights to airports in occupied Palestine
Yemeni Armed Forces: The operation confirms the continued blockade on navigation at Ben Gurion Airport
Yemeni Armed Forces: The missile successfully achieved its goal, causing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters and halting air traffic for about an hour
Yemeni Armed Forces: We targeted Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied Yafa region with a hypersonic ballistic missile
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Air raid sirens sound in the Gaza envelope settlements
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The number of martyrs in the European Hospital massacre in Khan Younis has exceeded 20
Senior Resistance figure: Loser Netanyahu is trying to please the Zionist right by claiming that he is achieving success in Gaza
Senior Resistance figure: Israeli media reports about the presence of a Resistance leader at the site of the massacre committed by targeting the European Hospital are not true
Israeli army claims intercepting a ballistic missile launched from Yemen

US, S. Korea discuss boosting drills in response to N. Korea 'threat'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 May 2022 13:24
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

US and South Korea's presidents met on Saturday in Seoul and considered boosting joint military exercises in response to the North Korean "threat".

  • x
  • U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visit a Samsung Electronics plant on Friday in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. | POOL / VIA REUTERS
    US, S. Korean presidents visiting a Samsung Electronics plant on Friday in Pyeongtaek, South Korea (Reuters)

US President Joe Biden and South Korea's newly sworn-in President Yoon Suk-yeol held a meeting on Saturday in Seoul, during which they said they will consider stepping up joint military drills in response to the North Korean "threat".

Biden noted that any possible meeting with the leader of North Korea "would depend on whether he was sincere."

After Biden's first trip as President to Asia, the two leaders stated that "considering the evolving threat posed by" North Korea, they "agree to initiate discussions to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training on and around the Korean peninsula."

Elsewhere in their statement, the two leaders expressed "concern over the recent Covid-19 outbreak" there and claimed they "are willing to work with the international community to provide assistance" to the country to help fight the virus.

Yoon claimed the offer has nothing to do with "political and military issues."

However, the US and South Korea are committed to North Korea's "complete denuclearization", Yoon said, adding that "nothing is more important than a strong deterrence against the North."

Closed-door talks were held with Yoon ahead of a joint press conference and state dinner.

North Korea's coming step will help steer the US-South Korean relationship under Yoon, former CIA analyst Soo Kim told AFP.

Related News

Macron blasts 'Israel' for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza

'Unjust', 'incompatible': Iran on US sanctions amid 'useful' talks

"Should Kim proceed with a test during Biden's visit, he will effectively be helping the two countries find greater justification to work together on the North Korea issue," she said.

Biden will be visiting another key US ally, Japan, on Sunday.

According to a US official, in addition to tensions over North Korea and the US-led draconian campaign on Russia over the war in Ukraine, Biden's priority on Saturday was to win Yoon and establish "a strong personal relationship" with him, although he has not completed two weeks into his presidency.

South Korea is seen, just like Japan, as a chief player in US strategy to stand in the face of a rising China and secure what Washington calls the "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The US official, who preferred to remain unnamed, told reporters that the US President's trip to Asia "is about demonstrating unity and resolve and strengthening the coordination between our closest allies".

However, the visit is overshadowed by what the official named "sabre-rattling" across the fortified border in North Korea, which the White House alleges might test either a nuclear-capable missile or explosive to benefit from the high-profile moment.

Cutting-edge investments 

Yoon accompanied Biden on a tour, on Friday, to a Samsung semiconductor factory, where the US President highlighted the Samsung plant's role in maintaining the semiconductors' fragile global supply chain.

He said the chips are an essential component in almost every piece of sophisticated modern technology, and the US and South Korea should work to "keep our supply chains resilient, reliable and secure."

For the US President, snarled supply chains are a critical domestic political challenge, with Americans greatly frustrated due to the rising prices and setbacks after the Covid pandemic recovery.

On Monday, Biden will unveil the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, which is a big new US initiative for regional trade. He will later join a regional summit of the Quad -- a grouping of India, Australia, Japan, and the United States.

  • United States
  • Biden
  • Biden's administration
  • Joe Biden
  • Yoon Suk-Yeol
  • South Korea
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • China
  • Military exercises

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025
A boy draped in a Palestinian flag carries a mock rocket during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)

Yemen announces hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport

  • Politics
  • 9 May 2025
President Donald Trump, left, greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US pressures 'Israel' for Gaza deal; Witkoff's Israeli rebuke leaked

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer with his wife Victoria make their way through supporters as they arrive at the count for the Holborn and St Pancras Parliamentary constituency where the Starmer is standing for election, in London, Friday, July 5, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UK Labour MPs urge government to recognize Palestine

Israeli exodus: 60,000 Israelis fled last year without return
Politics

Israeli exodus: 60,000 settlers fled last year on one-way tickets

Hollywood actors condemn Gaza violence days before Cannes Festival
Arts and Culture

350+ Hollywood actors condemn Gaza genocide ahead of Cannes Festival

Likud minister calls Trump as ‘unpredictable,’ unreliable
Palestine

Likud minister rebukes Trump, calls him 'unpredictable', unreliable

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS