By Reporter Anna Kim 

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with a US Senate delegation visiting Lithuania on July 11, local time, as part of their activities as observers of the US Senate NATO Observer Group. 

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the ROK-US alliance, the Ukraine issue, and cooperation between South Korea and the NATO.

President Yoon expressed his gratitude for the wholehearted and bipartisan support shown by members of the US Congress for the ROK-US alliance during his joint address to Congress in April. 

He stated that the meeting with the US Senate delegation on the occasion of the NATO Summit demonstrates the expansion of the alliance's stage, as the ROK-US alliance evolves into a true "global comprehensive strategic partnership."

In addition, President Yoon explained that by participating in the NATO Summit for the second consecutive year and signing the Individual Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP) between South Korea and NATO, the cooperation between the two parties is being significantly strengthened, following the establishment of the Republic of Korea's NATO Mission last year.

Furthermore, discussions were held on the current situation of Korea’s support for Ukraine in relation to the main agenda of the NATO Summit, the war in Ukraine, and cooperation between South Korea and the United States on the peaceful recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

John Shaheen, co-chair of the NATO Observer Group, praised President Yoon's state visit to the United States in April, stating that it was an important opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the ROK-US alliance, not only to the US administration and Congress but also to the American people. He expressed confidence that the bipartisan support for the ROK-US alliance in the US Congress will remain unchanged.

Furthermore, he highly praised South Korea's active participation in international support for Ukraine and the strengthening of cooperation with NATO as a partner in the Indo-Pacific region. He expressed hope that South Korea will continue to play a significant role as a major country in the Indo-Pacific region.