-O. Adejo
United States Vice President Kamala Harris has landed in Seoul, South Korea, on a state visit aimed to demonstrate America’s commitment to the area in the face of North Korean threats.
Kamala Harris met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shortly after landing and emphasised the importance of the two countries’ alliance in enhancing regional security and prosperity.
She is planning to tour the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has existed since the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. Most American presidents and vice presidents who visit South Korea make a point of visiting the DMZ.
President Joe Biden visited the DMZ as Vice President in 2013. President Donald Trump paid a visit in 2019, shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, ties between the United States and North Korea have deteriorated over time.
North Korea has been conducting short-range ballistic missile tests. One was fired on Sunday before Kamala Harris travelled to Japan for Shinzo Abe’s state funeral, and two more were fired while she was there. According to reports, the country is planning to launch its first nuclear weapon within the next five years.
Aside from the North Korean threat, Harris and Yoon are likely to address the expansion of economic and technological links, as well as how the US may assist in repairing Korea-Japan relations.
Kamala Harris to Visit South Korean DMZ Amid Tensions With North Korea