Provincial Governor Hak-kyu Sohn lectured on “Future of Korean-American Alliance” to 100 members from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) in Washington D.C. in the morning of the 24th (local time).

In this lecture, Sohn appraised that the past 50 years of Korean-American alliance has been historically the most successful relationship in the world. He also stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries has conjured the prosperity of Korea and peace of northeast Asia.

In relation to North Korea’s suspected nuclear weapon, Sohn linked the harm from the NK issue may break the Korean-American alliance. Korea and America must renounce the NK nuclear weapon and maintain a common consciousness until the day when NK becomes a member of the open international society.

Also about the relocation of the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea, Sohn appealed for a cautious settlement onto the relocation by considering the escalating inter-Korean tension due to the NK issue.

Sohn discussed issues such as the NK nuclear weapon, relocation of the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, Hynix Semiconductor commercial relations and other social matters that day with James Kelly, Assistant Secretary of State, Dick Cheney, U.S. Vice President, George Allen, US senator and other government officials. He requested that the Korean-American cooperation and settlement of the tension between the two countries be solved smoothly.

In the afternoon, Sohn signed a contract containing the intention of investing $164 million on the construction of the KINTEX Hotel. The KINTEX Hotel will be built on KINTEX ground in Daehwa-dong, Ilsan-gu, Goyang City and will have 800 special guest rooms.