Hosting Important Visitors to Korea
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Over the past few weeks, we were very fortunate
to welcome to Korea two visiting Congressional delegations (or CODELs)
consisting of U.S. senators and representatives, as well as one Staff
delegation (Staffdel) made up of chiefs of staff – the top staff members for senators. I worked for 10 years as a Congressional
staff member for a number of senators including Patrick Leahy, Tom Daschle and
then-Senator Barack Obama, so I am well aware of the important role that CODELs
and Staffdels play in furthering discussions on U.S. foreign policy. CODEL/Staffdel visitors also help provide a
voice from Congress to address important issues in the bilateral relationship
between our two countries.
(From left) With Senators Cory Gardner,
Joni Ernst and Dan Sullivan at Habib House
The first CODEL, comprised of Senator
Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Senator Cory Gardner
(R-CO), visited Seoul from May 28 to June 1.
The senators met with Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo to
discuss issues related to security on the Korean peninsula and the U.S.-ROK
alliance, visited the DMZ to meet with both U.S. and ROK troops, and engage on
a number of other bilateral security, economic and diplomatic issues. All three senators have extremely
distinguished resumes: Senator Sullivan
and Senator Ernst both served in uniform in the U.S. Armed Forces. Senator Gardner is the chair of the East Asia
Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the principal author
of the Senate version of the DPRK sanctions bill that ultimately became law.
Three senators visiting the DMZ during their visit to Seoul
(Photo: Senator Sullivan’s Twitter account @SenDanSullivan)
(Photo: Senator Sullivan’s Twitter account @SenDanSullivan)
The second CODEL, comprised of Representative
Ed Royce (R-CA), Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Representative Bill Flores
(R-TX), visited Korea from June 2-5. The
House members also had impressive backgrounds: Representative Royce has served as Chairman of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee since 2013 and drafted the North Korea
sanctions resolutions in the House of Representatives. Representative Lieu is a former active duty
officer in the U.S. Air Force and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in
the Reserves. Representative Flores, who
had a very successful career in the private sector including serving as CFO,
COO and CEO of successful energy companies, serves on the House Energy and
Commerce Committee, and previously served on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
as well.
(From left) Representatives Ted Lieu,
USFK Commander General Vincent Brooks, Representatives Ed Royce and Bill Flores
They also met with ROK leaders to
discuss security and refugee issues on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the
importance of the U.S.-ROK alliance. I
was able to join the visiting delegation members for meetings with Minister of
National Defense Han Min-koo and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam,
where the delegation discussed important issues related to security and
cooperation between the U.S. and Korea.
Representative Royce highlighted how Korea is a great example of how
post-war U.S. diplomacy helped bring successful economic development.
USFK Commander
General Vincent Brooks, USFK Deputy Commander Lieutenant General
Terrence O’Shaughnessy, and I with Staffdel visitors in front of the Legation House
All of our visitors’ schedules were full
of extremely important meetings with U.S. troops, ROK government officials,
commercial leaders as well as thought and opinion leaders. These meetings were very productive. My sense – after talking to the ROK
counterparts – is that the Koreans with whom they met also felt the meetings
were extremely useful.
The Asan Institute’s “Conversation with
U.S. Senators”
(More photos here: http://goo.gl/olJITR)
(More photos here: http://goo.gl/olJITR)
On top of that, we managed to have a bit
of time for some cultural exchange as well.
Overall, these CODEL/Staffdel visits
were extremely substantive and helped to move the alliance forward – a big
thank you to the CODELs and Staffdels!
Dear Ambassador Lippert,
ReplyDeletePlease watch the undercover videos from South Korea’s dog meat industry: http://youtu.be/3uR8R8Mu70Q
We know how loyal and faithful our dogs across the world are; and we all ask a lot of them – they serve us in innumerable ways: farm work, war work, police and guard duties, search and rescue, help for the disabled, guiding and guardianship, and, of course, as our loving and trusting companions, such as Grigsby. Please take immediate action and help us bring attention to the horrendous torture and slaughter of dogs and cats in S. Korea and urge their government to end this brutal trade once and for all.
An online petition calling for your support in ending the horrendous South Korean dog and cat meat cruelty is in progress: https://www.change.org/p/ambassador-mark-lippert-urge-the-s-korean-government-to-end-the-torture-and-consumption-of-dogs-and-cats
The favor of your reply is requested.
Thank you
patricia carrasco
Seconding the above message. World scale consumer leverage that this matters and needs dealing with.
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