Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, left, speaks during his meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Tokyo, Tuesday, ahead of a state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. AFP-Yonhap

PM Han expresses concerns over Inflation Reduction Act

By Jung Min-ho

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides the rival Koreas, on Thursday in Washington's latest bid to demonstrate its commitment to Seoul's security.

This would mark the first visit to the border barrier by a top Biden administration official at a time when tensions are mounting as a result of a series of recent North Korean provocations, including a short-range ballistic missile test on Sunday.

Harris, who held a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before attending a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, will make a one-day visit to Seoul, where she is scheduled to meet with President Yoon Suk-yeol and top diplomats to discuss urgent issues between the two countries.

During a meeting with Harris at the Okura Tokyo Hotel, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said that her DMZ visit would be "symbolic" for the two countries' alliance and joint effort for peace.

"The South Korean government and the people are excited to welcome you," Han said. "The two countries have worked together to protect shared values such as human rights and free trade."

Han and Harris shared their concern about North Korea's evolving nuclear threat and agreed to respond decisively together to any further provocations by the regime.