US secretary of state to visit South Korea next week

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit South Korea next week to discuss a host of pressing issues, notably the Israel-Palestine conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.

Blinken will kick off his two-day visit on Nov. 8 after attending a Group of Seven (G-7) foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported on Wednesday, citing the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

This will be Blinken's first trip to South Korea since the launch of the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol in May 2022. He last visited Seoul in March 2021.

Other issues to be discussed during Blinken's visit include the countries’ alliance, North Korea, and as the growing military ties between North Korea and Russia.

Blinken will also meet with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin for "broad discussions on the bilateral alliance, North Korean issues, economic security and advanced technologies, as well as regional and global issues," said a ministry press release.

The escalating war between Israel and Palestine is also expected to be high on the agenda.​​​​​​​