US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln (left) and US State Department spokesman Edward Price. Screen capture of a non-face-to-face video roundtable between Minister Blincoln and Korean reporters (top) through the video conference program ZOOM. The meeting was held for about 30 minutes on the afternoon of the 18th under the title of’Roundtable for emerging voices in Journalism’. Twelve reporters from domestic newspapers, broadcasters, and news agencies participated. Capture zoom screen
“The stories you write are recorded and become a part of history. (The journalist) finds it the most exciting and rewarding job in many ways.” On the afternoon of the 18th, US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln, who visited South Korea for the first time since the inauguration of the Biden administration, was held on the 17th to 18th at a roundtable for emerging voices. in Journalism) held a non-face-to-face video conference with Korean reporters. This morning, after the meeting and press conference of the Korean-US diplomatic and defense (2+2) ministers ended, they met the Korean media separately. The U.S. Embassy in Korea limited participants to the age of 20-30, saying that it would listen to the fresh voices of young reporters, and 12 reporters from domestic newspapers, broadcasters, and news agencies participated. Secretary Blincoln spoke with reporters to answer questions, followed by US State Department spokesman Edward Price. Throughout the meeting, Secretary Blincoln showed off his intimacy with the media. His first job was as a journalist, and he emphasized on several occasions how important he values the press. He also said, “What journalists do through journalism directly leads to the power of Korean democracy, and it is a public service.” Minister Blincoln emphasized the importance and meaning of the media, but the reporters who attended the meeting were consistently answered with a somewhat’diplomatic’ answer, leaving a regret. The initial meeting was scheduled to last for 45 minutes, but it ended in 30 minutes with only four reporters’ questions. On the 16th, when asked about the position of the Korean Workers’ Party’s Central Committee Vice Chairman Kim Yeo-jeong and Foreign Minister Choi Sun-hee announced this morning, Minister Blincoln said, “I know the contents of the discourse.” I am interested in it.” It is the same as the answer to the question from the last press conference. When asked,’Do you think Korea should participate in the quad’ and’Do you have any requests from Korea to participate in the quad at this meeting?’ -I am confident that Micah will also be able to find a way to cooperate through the Quad.” At the meeting, US President Joe Biden asked if there was a possibility of meeting directly with the Korean Workers’ Party general secretary Kim Jong-un. “We are looking at the different types of pressure and diplomacy that can make progress by persuading North Korea,” Blincoln said. I have it.” This is a diplomatic response that can be interpreted in various ways without completely affirming or denying the possibility of a North Korea-US summit meeting. Regarding whether the Biden administration’s policy toward North Korea will be publicly disclosed in the future, “I think it is very important to make it clear and openly clear no matter what the policy is. I will definitely announce it.” By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter [email protected]