"The United States and South Korea have ties to partnerships that are incredibly important. We will continue to work to strengthen them."



At a press briefing, White House press secretary Jen Saki said, "In response to a question about why US President Joe Biden is visiting Korea and Japan at the end of this month, 'there has never been the case in the past 60 years, so why are you visiting Korea before Japan?' The president has been visiting Korea for a long time."



However, spokesperson Saki said, "I hope you do not think too deeply in terms of the order of the tour," adding that the US has strong ties with both South Korea and Japan.



President Biden, who will be on his first East Asia tour after taking office, will visit Korea on the 20th and 22nd, and then Japan on the 22nd and 24th.



He will hold the US-ROK summit in Seoul on the 21st, and the US-Japan summit and quad summit in Tokyo on the 23rd and 24th.



Some observers are interpreting that President Biden's choice of Korea as his first destination on his East Asia tour is that the Biden administration is attaching importance to US-Korea relations.



When asked whether President Biden's priority visit to South Korea was a sign of a change in US policy in East Asia, such as the focus on North Korea issues or the possibility of South Korea joining the Quad, a consultative body of the four countries of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, Saki said, "We "There are many ways in which the United States and South Korea can engage with South Korea," he said.



"But quads will remain quads," he said.



It is read that it is clear that it will hold dialogue in various ways to strengthen Korea-US relations, while implying that the four-nation anti-China consultative body quad will remain as it is for now.



Spokesperson Saki declined to say that there was nothing predictable at this time when asked about the possibility that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol would consider joining the quad if invited.



Still, "I note that we have an incredibly important and indispensable relationship with South Korea," he said. " he mentioned.



Regarding the agenda for visit to Korea, spokesperson Saki said, "Of course, I am confident that North Korea will be included in the agenda and become an important part.



(Photo = Getty Images Korea)