South Korea said Sunday it is ready to "warmly welcome" U.S. President Donald Trump later this week, adding it will use the visit to lay the groundwork for an even stronger alliance between the two countries.
In a media briefing, presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun said Trump's state visit on Tuesday and his subsequent summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in comes at a critical juncture for comprehensive cooperation between Seoul and Washington in the political, economic and military fields. Park also noted the backdrop of the grave security situation on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's nuclear test and subsequent missile launches.
"By warmly welcoming President Trump as our guest, we'll use this opportunity to take our alliance beyond the comprehensive one and toward an even greater alliance," Park told reporters at Cheong Wa Dae. "This will ultimately bring peace and prosperity to the Korean Peninsula. And giving guests a warm reception is our country's long held tradition, and it will allow us to reconfirm the powerful alliance between the United States and South Korea."
Park also asked the South Korean people to join the government in welcoming Trump and vowed that the government will do its best to produce positive results from Trump's summit with Moon.
Trump is the first U.S. president to pay a state visit to South Korea in 25 years.