June 03, 2023
News

US, South Korea say they want unified peninsula that is ‘free and at peace’

Expert says wording in Yoon-Biden statement notable for lack of reference to North Korean government’s future role

The presidents of the U.S. and South Korea declared their support for a unified Korean Peninsula that is “free and at peace” in a joint statement on Wednesday, raising questions about what role the allies envision Kim Jong Un’s government would play if such a future is realized.

The remarks following a summit meeting between Joe Biden and Yoon Suk-yeol in Washington mark one of the few times the countries’ presidents have touched on unification in a joint statement since former leaders Barack Obama and Park Geun-hye were in office last decade.