Washington:Congressman-elect Dan Koh expressed concerns about the South Korea-U.S. alliance under President Donald Trump's administration, during a press conference hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in Washington. Koh, who recently secured a House seat representing Massachusetts, emphasized his commitment to restoring strong bilateral ties and questioned the effectiveness of diplomacy between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Koh, a Democrat, highlighted the importance of maintaining a robust alliance irrespective of the political party of the U.S. president. He criticized Trump's handling of Korean immigrants and workers in the U.S., citing a specific incident in Georgia, and addressed the administration's tariff policies affecting U.S. allies. Koh conveyed his intention to rejuvenate the alliance, which he believed flourished during Joe Biden's presidency, where Koh had served as a White House official.

Koh expressed skepticism about potential meetings between Trump and Kim during an upcoming Asia trip, supporting diplomacy with North Korea but doubting Trump's approach would yield constructive results. He pledged to work closely with Korean American Senator Andy Kim on legislative cooperation to strengthen the alliance and expressed a desire to visit South Korea after assuming office.

In addition to political concerns, Koh emphasized the significance of people-to-people exchanges, advocating for an inclusive environment for South Koreans visiting the U.S. He also showed willingness to consider South Korea's interest in expanding bilateral cooperation on uranium enrichment and shipbuilding.

Koh acknowledged the support from the Korean American community during his campaign, expressing gratitude and recalling a memorable Chuseok celebration at the White House. He noted his family's roots in Jeju and Lebanon and expressed his commitment to encouraging greater Asian American participation in U.S. politics.

Source Yonhap News Agency