SEOUL: South Korean and US officials struck an upbeat note on the trajectory of the two countries' evolving relationship, calling it a "model" and "forward-looking" alliance, as they celebrated the Korean National Day and Armed Forces Day in Washington.
Their display of confidence over the decades-old alliance came a day after Seoul and Washington issued a joint fact sheet encompassing wide-ranging agreements on security, trade and other fronts, easing uncertainties over the bilateral relations and ending a flurry of speculation surrounding the delay in its release, reports Yonhap news agency.
The celebration was attended by South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha, US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Christopher Mahoney and other prominent figures.
The event's venue, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, drew attention as it is where the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in 1949 by representatives of 12 founding member countries to create the transatlantic alliance during the Cold War.