정부, 美 대선에 촉각...외교부 TF 가동, 국방부•통일부 '예의 주시'<br /><br />The 2020 U.S. Presidential election comes at a crucial time when there are several unresolved issues between Seoul and Washington.<br />These include the stalled denuclearization talks with Pyeongyang,... as well as bilateral issues between the two allies.<br />Live in Seoul, Arirang's very own foreign affairs correspondent Yoon Jung-min joins us from the nation's foreign affairs ministry.<br />Jungmin, Seoul is also closely following the presidential election in the U.S., isn't it?<br />Right, Conn-young.<br />The South Korean government says it is keeping close tabs on the U.S. Presidential election.<br />Seoul and Washington have a series of issues in need of a resolution.<br />These include the stalled defense cost-sharing negotiations, denuclearization talks with North Korea,... and other issues between the allies amid the rising U.S.-China rivalry.<br />The two countries also need to further work on the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul.<br />To check 'post-election' strategies,... Seoul's vice foreign minister Choi Jong-kun earlier teamed up a task force from related departments,... including the North American Affairs Bureau and the North Korean Nuclear Affairs Bureau.<br />On Tuesday, Seoul's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and unification minister Lee In-young met with ruling party lawmakers at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.<br />They discussed the government's post-U.S. election plan.<br />Now, Seoul's defense ministry says it's preparing for issues involving the OPCON transfer and Seoul-Washington defense alliance.<br />The defense ministry is also keeping a close eye on a possible military provocation by North Korea after the U.S. Presidential election.<br />Now, what are immediate plans do South Korean officials have for when the election is over?<br />Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha plans to visit Washington this month.<br />She will be focusing on managing the issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula while there.<br />Sources say the top diplomat will also try to check who will be in charge of foreign affairs for the incoming U.S. administration.<br />Kang is currently adjusting her schedule with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.<br />It is likely that Kang will make her trip some time around the second week of November.<br />Also, Unification Minister Lee In-young signaled today,... that he might travel to the U.S. after the election,... apparently to add momentum to the government's push for peace on the Korean Peninsula.<br />He said he would comment on that later at the right time. Connyoung.<br />Yoon Jung-min live from Seoul's foreign affairs ministry. Thanks, Jungmin.<br />
