Ahn, who is visiting the U.S. for the first time since taking office, met with Hung Cao, acting secretary of the U.S. Navy, in Washington on Tuesday morning to discuss key alliance issues, according to the ministry.
During the meeting, Ahn stressed that South Korea is an ideal partner for shipbuilding cooperation with the U.S., citing its advanced shipbuilding capabilities and the enactment of a special law providing a legal basis for investment in the U.S.
He also said South Korea’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines would contribute to shared security interests between Seoul and Washington and mark an important milestone in upgrading the bilateral alliance. Ahn asked for active support from the U.S. Navy Department, the ministry said.
The two sides agreed to continue close cooperation, the ministry said.
The leaders of South Korea and the U.S. agreed in a joint fact sheet last year to cooperate on South Korea’s construction of nuclear-powered submarines as part of Seoul’s broader $350 billion investment package for the U.S., but follow-up negotiations have made little progress.
Ahn also met with key U.S. lawmakers on Monday and Tuesday to discuss alliance issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON, from Washington to Seoul.
They included Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, ranking member Jack Reed and Sen. Rick Scott, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower.
Ahn thanked Congress for its longstanding support for the alliance and asked for bipartisan cooperation to help develop the alliance in a future-oriented and mutually beneficial way.
Ahn also visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday and the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Tuesday to lay wreaths.
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