President Biden and the First Lady are set to host South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol next month in what will be Biden’s 2nd state visit of his Administration.
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the visit will take place April 26. “The Presidents will discuss our shared resolve to deepen and broaden our political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties,” she added.
The visit’s aim is to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, which Jean-Pierre called “critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world.”
The visit comes as the U.S. works to strengthen its relationships with allies in Asia as a counterbalance to China’s rising influence and threats from North Korea.
Last year Biden traveled to both Japan and South Korea where he visited Osan Air Base near Seoul, which has since become the site of a newly-launched U.S. Space Force unit that’s expected to allow the Pentagon to better monitor not just China and North Korea but Russia as well.
In December Biden played host to French President Emmanuel Macron in his first state visit, during which the pair presented a united front in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
South Korea’s President will be joined at the White House by First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
