South Korea and the United States are in talks to hold a summit between President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden in Seoul around May 21, a source said on Friday.
As per reports, South Korea has been pushing for Biden to visit before he travels to Japan for a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting scheduled for May 24. If realised, the summit would take place just days after Yoon takes office on May 10, making it the first-ever South Korea-US summit following the inauguration of a South Korean president.
"Nothing has been verified," a member of Yoon's transition team said. "However, it is known that the two sides are discussing schedules." "During Yoon's policy consultation delegation's recent visit to the United States, they emphasised their desire for a South Korea-US summit as soon as feasible as part of President Biden's tour to Asia," the official added.
The same day, Japanese private broadcaster JNN reported that negotiations to plan Biden's travel to South Korea on May 21 ahead of his trip to Japan were nearing completion. Won Il-hee, the transition team's senior deputy spokesperson, said he had no information about a Yoon-Biden meeting. "The date of May 21 is also not being discussed or considered at this time," he stated at a press conference.
Meanwhile, US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim will visit Seoul next week for talks with South Korean authorities. Although the foreign relations subcommittee is looking into the matter, Won said he is unaware of any planned meetings between Kim and transition team members.
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