Ruling party lawmakers head to US for discussions on NK, alliance following Biden's election

Three ruling party lawmakers, including the chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, left for Washington on Sunday for meetings with US congressional leaders and experts in the wake of Joe Biden's election as US president.

The three members of the Democratic Party's task force on Korean Peninsula issues -- Reps. Song Young-gil, Kim Han-jung and Yun Kun-young -- plan to meet with Brad Sherman (D-CA), a member of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia, and Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) during the five-day visit.

"Rep. Sherman is one of the leading candidates for chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee," Song, the National Assembly's foreign affairs committee chairman, told reporters at Incheon International Airport. "We're going to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue and the alliance between South Korea and the US."

The three lawmakers also plan to meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who doubles as the US point man for North Korea, as well as people related to the incoming Biden administration, though it will be difficult to meet with members of Biden's transition team.

"After the US presidential election, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa visited the US, and we're the first to go there as lawmakers," Song said. "We're at a point in time when parliamentary exchanges are important because President-elect Biden hails from Congress and considers parliament important."

South Korea has been trying to maintain close coordination and cooperation with the US after Biden's election as it wants to continue its Korean Peninsula peace process by engaging with North Korea and keep a mood for peace and reconciliation alive. (Yonhap)