Vice minister heads to US, Japan amid political turmoil

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun held a vice foreign ministerial meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 3. (Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun will visit the United States and Japan from Sunday to Thursday to revive in-person diplomacy, which has been on hold since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3.

Kim will first hold a vice-ministerial meeting in Washington, the Foreign Ministry announced Sunday, providing no additional details including the date of the meeting.

During the meeting, Kim “will discuss Korea-US relations, trilateral cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan, as well as North Korean issues.”

Following his US visit, Kim will travel to Tokyo for a vice-ministerial meeting, according to the Foreign Ministry. No further specifics were also disclosed.

The Tokyo meeting will cover “Korea-Japan relations, trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan, as well as preparations for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization next year.”

Kim's counterparts are US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano.

Kim’s trip to Washington and Tokyo takes on added significance as Seoul works to solidify its alliance with the US and deepen coordination with Japan under acting President Han Duck-soo.

Last week, Han spoke with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba over the phone, reaffirming South Korea’s commitment to continue to implement foreign and security policies without disruption, despite the political upheaval sparked by Yoon's martial law decree.

Kim’s visit to Washington comes as South Korea prepares for the beginning of the Trump administration in January. Notably, Kim chaired the first meeting of a task force on Dec. 17, established to prepare for the transition to Trump’s second term.

The Foreign Ministry also confirmed Saturday that Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed during a phone call that day to arrange an in-person meeting at the earliest opportunity.