On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden paid a visit to the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC, ahead of formal White House meetings aimed at strengthening the critical US-South Korean partnership.
Yoon, who is on a six-day tour of the United States, and US Vice President Kamala Harris visited NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center just outside Washington earlier in the day.
He then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery before joining Biden at the war memorial, which depicts life-sized steel statues of US soldiers marching against communist North Korean forces during the 1950-53 fight.
Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee will arrive at the White House on Wednesday for only the Biden administration’s second full-fledged state visit, following that of France’s Emmanuel Macron.
There will be extravagant ceremonial festivities as well as a grand White House banquet.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Biden had given Yoon a handmade mahogony table and vintage baseball memorabilia. Jill Biden, the First Lady, gave her counterpart a “pendant necklace with a trio of blue sapphires designed by a Korean American designer.”
Beyond the pomp and ceremony, Biden and Yoon want to talk about their countries’ growing alliance in an increasingly unpredictable Pacific, where North Korea is ramping up nuclear-capable missile manufacturing and China is threatening Taiwan.
Biden and Yoon have had four “engagements” since Yoon assumed office less than a year ago, according to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and “have developed a rapport.”
Washington and Seoul are also emphasizing their strong cultural ties, which have been highlighted by Netflix’s announcement of a $2.5 billion investment in South Korean content. On Monday, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met with Yoon in Washington.
