By Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol hosted a luncheon for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is visiting South Korea, at the presidential office on Nov. 9.
 

"Over the past year and a half, the U.S.-ROK global comprehensive strategic alliance has been firmly established, and Secretary Blinken has played a great role in this process," the president said, welcoming him to the country.

"As an ally of the United States, South Korea will work closely with the United States to defend its core values and strengthen the rules-based international order," the president said, noting that the unrest in the Middle East, along with the North Korean nuclear issue and the war in Ukraine, make U.S. leadership even more important.

"U.S. foreign policy is centered on the Indo-Pacific region," Blinken said, adding, "We look forward to deepening our alliance and strategic partnership with the Republic of Korea, a key player in the region. We salute President Yoon's leadership in forging a new path forward in bilateral and trilateral relations."

The luncheon was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin, National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong, First Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo, Public Relations Chief Kim Eun-hye, Foreign Affairs Secretary Lee Chung-myun, U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, and State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller." 

The menu featured Korean dishes such as cucumber crab meat cold cuts, chestnut porridge, and seafood sundried tofu and walnut kangjeong.