ROK-U.S. Bilateral Policy Dialogue (BPD) Launched

1. On March 19, Director-General for North American Affairs Ko Yunju held the 1st “ROK-U.S. Bilateral Policy Dialogue (BPD),” a director-general/deputy assistant secretary level regular consultative platform, with Marc Knapper, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, who is on a visit to Seoul.   2. Since the ROK and the U.S. shared their understanding on the need to establish a DG/DAS level consultative platform between the diplomatic authorities (tentatively called “Alliance Dialogue”) at the ROK-U.S. Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting in September 2020, the two countries have continued to discuss concrete ways forward. Based on these efforts, they agreed to officially launch the DG/DAS level consultative platform, calling it “Bilateral Policy Dialogue,” taking opportunity of the 5th ROK-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (Mar. 18).   o The “Bilateral Policy Dialogue” is a regular consultative platform where DG/DAS level officials from the diplomatic authorities of the two countries hold a broad discussion on key issues of mutual interest. It is expected to contribute to handling a range of diplomatic and security issues between the two countries in a systematic and speedy manner.   3. In the inaugural BPD, Director-General Ko and Deputy Assistant Secretary Knapper discussed ways to operate the platform as well as key issues of interest between the two countries, and agreed to hold the next meeting in the first half of this year.   o Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun visited the meeting venue briefly, appreciated the launch of the BPD and extended words of encouragement to the participants.   Source