U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wear protective face masks as they attend a security meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on March 16, 2021. (Photo: AFP-Yonhap News)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are set to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for the first visit to the country by senior Joe Biden administration officials.
Once here, they will hold separate talks with their Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Defense Minister Suh Wook, respectively, to discuss matters of mutual concern, such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the transfer of wartime operational control.
All four officials will come together on Thursday for a "two plus two" meeting, the first of its kind in more than 10 years.
They will likely use the opportunity to hold an initialing ceremony for their new Special Measures Agreement, the defense cost-sharing deal between the two countries.
The visit by Blinken and Austin comes as the Biden government is reviewing its policy towards North Korea amid stalled nuclear dialogue.
Blinken said Tuesday, during his visit to Tokyo, that Washington is looking at various ways to address issues related to the North, including "pressure measures" and "diplomatic paths."
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