Chung Dae-yong, head of the National Security Office, visited the United States yesterday (7 days) for high-level consultations on the three countries.

Jung arrived yesterday morning at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, and exited the airport through an VIP passage, leaving no contact with correspondents.

Chung is expected to hold high-level talks with US counterpart Robert O'Brien, Security Secretary for the White House, and Japan's National Security Agency Kitamura Shigeru.

The visit was made in the face of heightened tensions between North America due to North Korea's "shocking real action," and in-depth discussions on countermeasures against North Korea, such as North Korea's return to the negotiation table, will continue.

In addition, President Moon Jae-in expressed his intention to re-promote North Korean secretary Kim Jong-un's visit to Seoul in New Year's history.

In addition, the situation in the Middle East has sharply deteriorated, with the US opposing the Iranian military force to create an extreme confrontation between the two countries.

US Ambassador Harry Harris said in a KBS interview yesterday (Korea) that South Korea is gaining a lot of energy resources from the Middle East. We hope to send troops there.

This meeting is also the first high-level US-ROK security consultation after the sharp dispute over the Korea-Japan Military Security Agreement has been resolved.

Kyodo news agency reported that the plan was to hold the meeting last month, but it was suspended due to the Gisomia's stance, but it was promoted again because of the dialogue between the two countries at the December 24 summit meeting.

Chung met with reporters at Incheon International Airport yesterday (7th) on his departure day and said, "I think we will discuss opinions on lasting peace policy through the recent situation on the Korean peninsula and negotiations on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

Chung replied, "Is there any discussion on other issues?"

Chung is expected to return home tomorrow (9th).