South Korea's Yoon hails US ties at joint meeting of Congress - CNA

"KOREA WILL NEVER FORGET"

"We need to speed up Korea, US, Japan trilateral security cooperation to counter increasing North Korean nuclear threat," Yoon warned Congress, vowing to work for Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

"We must raise global awareness of (the) dire human rights situation in North Korea. We must not shy away from our duty to promote freedom for North Koreans," he added.

Yoon and Biden had rounded off a day of pomp and ceremony Wednesday with a lavish state dinner attended by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie - with Yoon surprising guests with a rendition of his favourite song, American Pie.

Biden had recalled the sacrifice by American soldiers to help fight the communist north during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

"Korea will never forget the great American heroes who fought with us to defend freedom," Yoon told Congress on Thursday.

Turning to modern conflict, he condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "violation of international law", pledging to work for the freedom of the Ukrainian people and to support the country's reconstruction.

There were conspicuous gaps across the floor for what could have been an awkward affair, seven months after Yoon was overheard calling US lawmakers who rejected funding for a global health programme "idiots".

But he was warmly received by the majority of members who did show up, receiving a raucous ovation on his entry into the chamber for an address that was punctuated by exuberant applause.

He prompted laughter across the chamber as he joked that K-Pop band BTS, who visited Biden earlier last year, "beat him to the White House, but I beat them to Capitol Hill".

Yoon was due to have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken later Thursday before a visit Friday to MIT and Harvard University in Boston and his return home on Saturday.

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2023-04-27 18:53:00Z
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