South Korea: Biden To Host Yoon For State Visit

Washington Post reporting that President Joe Biden will host his South Korean counterpart President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit next month.

• The visit will be only the second state visit of Biden's tenure showing the extent to which the Biden administration is throwing support behind Yoon's reform agenda, seen as a crucial pillar of Biden's Indo-Pacific agenda.
• WaPo notes the stark difference in the previous state visit, from French President Emmanuel Macron, the United States’ "oldest ally" and one of the longest-serving leaders in Europe, "whereas Yoon was elected to the presidency one year ago."
• White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said: “President Biden’s investment in the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance has been game changing for our economic and national security... The United States’ commitment to the Republic of Korea is ironclad.”
• US officials have recently commended Yoon's drive to repair the bilateral relationship with Japan and the state visit may be designed to boost Yoon with a sceptical electorate who want a firmer line taken on the issue of war reparations.
• The US-ROK militaries will begin "Freedom Shield" their largest joint exercise in five years on March 13.