Harris to visit inter-Korean border during South Korea visit

Tokyo, Sep 27 (EFE).- The vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, will visit the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas on Thursday as part of a two-day stay in South Korea, officials said on Tuesday.

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced the border visit during a meeting with Harris in Tokyo on Tuesday, where both leaders were present for former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s state funeral.

Speaking at the meeting, Han said that Harris’s planned visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the inter-Korean border would be a “symbolic demonstration” of the alliance between Washington and Seoul.

A US official also emphasized Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to security and peace of the peninsula, and highlighted the close cooperation between the two allies “in the face of any threats posed by North Korea.”

Meanwhile Harris said this alliance would be beneficial for regional security, and added that she would also address other issues during her visit, such as investments in technology, cooperation in the aerospace industry and mitigation of the effects of climate change.

The US leader is set to stay in Japan until Wednesday, before heading to South Korea for a trip that would last until Friday.

During her visit to the DMZ, Harris is expected to meet members of the US Forces Korea (USFK) and attend an informative session with high ranking military officials of the country about their operations in the area, along with the South Korean troops and the United Nations multinational contingent. EFE

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