Biden, South Korea’s Moon Announce Vaccine Partnership

U.S. President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in announced on Friday a U.S.-South Korea vaccine partnership.

The two leaders had their first official meeting at the White House where they agreed on a U.S.-South Korea vaccine partnership in order to expand the manufacture of vaccines and scale up global vaccine supplies.

"We will strengthen our ability to fight the pandemic and respond to future biological threats," Biden said during a joint press conference with Moon.

South Korea has vaccinated only 3% of its 52 million residents; however, it aims at reaching herd immunity by November.

Upon the agreement, the U.S. will help the country reach that goal by providing vaccines for 550,000 members of the Korean military who work alongside U.S. forces in the region.

In the same page, the two leaders focused on climate change and regional security, including partnerships with other allies in the region.

Moreover, they discussed the democratic crisis in Myanmar, tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and cooperation regarding high-tech industries.

Biden thanked South Korean companies, including Samsung, Hyundai, SK, and LG, which announced more than $25 billion in new investments in the U.S.

Those investments are intended to support the Biden administration's goal of building supply chain resilience in its rivalry with China.

Moon arrived in Washington Wednesday ahead of his meeting with Biden, marking what may be his final visit to the United States and last chance to fulfill campaign pledges before his term ends.

Before returning home, he is expected to make a stopover at Atlanta to visit South Korean battery maker SK Innovation’s factory. He will arrive back in Seoul on Sunday evening.