South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been asked to address a joint session of Congress on his visit to Washington later this month.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and other officials announced Thursday that Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress in honour of the 70th anniversary of the US-ROK connection. The meeting is scheduled for April 27, as reported by the Associated Press.&nbsp;

“With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance between our two countries, it is an especially important time to reflect on the achievements of our partnership and to reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity, and global peace,” the leaders wrote.

They stated that the US-Korea relationship is "of great importance and significance," and that the meeting "would provide an ideal platform for you to share your vision for the future of the US-Korea alliance."

President Joe Biden will host Yoon at a state dinner on April 26, his second as president.

The invitation to address Congress comes as the US strengthens its connections with Asia and sharpens its focus on China. This week, McCarthy risked infuriating China by having a bipartisan meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in a diplomatic show of US support for the island government, which Beijing claims as territory.

South Korea and the US have recently intensified collaborative security measures as concerns about China's intentions in the region increase. &nbsp;The country is also concerned about US restrictions affecting the tech industry and trade with China.

Congress often invites heads of state to deliver speeches during joint sessions, providing a high-profile chance to highlight ties between the United States and other countries.

The congressional minority leaders, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, signed the letter.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been asked to address a joint session of Congress on his visit to Washington later this month. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and other officials announced Thursday that Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress in honour of the 70th anniversary of the US-ROK connection.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been asked to address a joint session of Congress on his visit to Washington later this month. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and other officials announced Thursday that Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress in honour of the 70th anniversary of the US-ROK connection. The meeting is scheduled for April 27, as reported by the Associated Press. “With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance between our two countries, it is an especially important time to reflect on the achievements of our partnership and to reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity, and global peace,” the leaders wrote. They stated that the US-Korea relationship is "of great importance and significance," and that the meeting "would provide an ideal platform for you to share your vision for the future of the US-Korea alliance." President Joe Biden will host Yoon at a state dinner on April 26, his second as president. The invitation to address Congress comes as the US strengthens its connections with Asia and sharpens its focus on China. This week, McCarthy risked infuriating China by having a bipartisan meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in a diplomatic show of US support for the island government, which Beijing claims as territory. South Korea and the US have recently intensified collaborative security measures as concerns about China's intentions in the region increase. The country is also concerned about US restrictions affecting the tech industry and trade with China. Congress often invites heads of state to deliver speeches during joint sessions, providing a high-profile chance to highlight ties between the United States and other countries. The congressional minority leaders, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, signed the letter. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US invites South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to address Congress

North Korean state media called on the United States on Tuesday to "withdraw its hostile policy" towards Pyongyang or agreements made at a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-try-our-patience-north-korea-warns-us-a-year-after-accord-224313">landmark summit</a> in Singapore a year ago might become "a blank sheet of paper".&nbsp;

The statement on state news agency KCNA, echoing a similar warning last week, reflected the stalemate since a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February collapsed.

The Hanoi summit broke down over US&nbsp;demands for North Korea`s denuclearisation and North Korean demands for sanctions relief.&nbsp;

"The arrogant and unilateral US&nbsp;policy will never work on the DPRK, which values sovereignty," KCNA said. North Korea`s official name is the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The report said a four-point joint statement signed by Trump and Kim on June 12 last year pledging to work towards a new relationship "is in danger of being a blank sheet of paper because the US&nbsp;is turning a blind eye to its implementation".

" ... now is the time for the US&nbsp;to withdraw its hostile policy concerning the DPRK," it said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday he believed talks between North and South Korea and between the North and the United States would resume soon.

He said during a state visit to Finland that talks were underway about the third summit between North Korea and the United States, "so I don`t think it`s a situation that needs a third country`s arrangement".

Trump said last week he looked forward to seeing Kim at the appropriate time.&nbsp;

Trump and US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will attend the G20 summit in Japan later this month and will then visit South Korea to meet Moon and coordinate efforts for the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Monday.

North Korean state media called on the United States on Tuesday to "withdraw its hostile policy" towards Pyongyang or agreements made at a landmark summit in Singapore a year ago might become "a blank sheet of paper".

North Korean state media called on the United States on Tuesday to "withdraw its hostile policy" towards Pyongyang or agreements made at a landmark summit in Singapore a year ago might become "a blank sheet of paper". The statement on state news agency KCNA, echoing a similar warning last week, reflected the stalemate since a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February collapsed. The Hanoi summit broke down over US demands for North Korea`s denuclearisation and North Korean demands for sanctions relief. "The arrogant and unilateral US policy will never work on the DPRK, which values sovereignty," KCNA said. North Korea`s official name is the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The report said a four-point joint statement signed by Trump and Kim on June 12 last year pledging to work towards a new relationship "is in danger of being a blank sheet of paper because the US is turning a blind eye to its implementation". " ... now is the time for the US to withdraw its hostile policy concerning the DPRK," it said. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday he believed talks between North and South Korea and between the North and the United States would resume soon. He said during a state visit to Finland that talks were underway about the third summit between North Korea and the United States, "so I don`t think it`s a situation that needs a third country`s arrangement". Trump said last week he looked forward to seeing Kim at the appropriate time. Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will attend the G20 summit in Japan later this month and will then visit South Korea to meet Moon and coordinate efforts for the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Monday.

North Korea urges US to change 'hostile policy' on eve of summit anniversary

Ahead of the meeting between Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un on June 12 in Singapore, the US President has assured "protection" to North Korea.

His assurance has come as a reward to North Korea in return for its adoption to denuclearisation.&nbsp;

The assurance has also come in the wake of the North Korea's recent claim on the need of a nuclear weapon. North Korea had recently argued its need of nuclear weapon in order to secure itself.

According to media reports, Trump said that in return for abandoning nuclear weapons, the United States would provide it with protection against any kind of attacks.&nbsp;

Trump also negated reports that claimed the cancellation of the meeting between North Korea and the US. The reports said that the meeting between the two countries was cancelled due to the ongoing military deal between US and South Korea.

North Korea has dismantled its nuclear site Punggye-ri after United States, Japan, South Korea and China collectively put forward the need for denuclearisation.

The assurance has also come in the wake of the North Korea's recent claim on the need of a nuclear weapon. Earlier, North Korea had argued its need of nuclear weapon in order to secure itself

Ahead of the meeting between Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un on June 12 in Singapore, the US President has assured "protection" to North Korea. His assurance has come as a reward to North Korea in return for its adoption to denuclearisation. The assurance has also come in the wake of the North Korea's recent claim on the need of a nuclear weapon. North Korea had recently argued its need of nuclear weapon in order to secure itself. According to media reports, Trump said that in return for abandoning nuclear weapons, the United States would provide it with protection against any kind of attacks. Trump also negated reports that claimed the cancellation of the meeting between North Korea and the US. The reports said that the meeting between the two countries was cancelled due to the ongoing military deal between US and South Korea. North Korea has dismantled its nuclear site Punggye-ri after United States, Japan, South Korea and China collectively put forward the need for denuclearisation.

Trump offers protection to North Korea in return for denuclearisation

North Korea has broken its silence on the diplomatic thaw with Washington and Seoul, saying it is driving the &quot;peace offensive&quot; and rejecting suggestions that sanctions forced it to the negotiating table.

The commentary from the state-run KCNA news agency came with a rapid rapprochement on the Korean peninsula underway, after a period of heightened tensions stoked by the missile and nuclear tests.

But as diplomats scurry to arrange two proposed summits - North-South talks followed by a face-to-face meet between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un - the North&#39;s silence had raised concerns over its intentions.

The KCNA commentary late Tuesday did not directly mention the summits but noted the &quot;dramatic atmosphere for reconciliation&quot; with the South and &quot;a sign of change&quot; with the US.&nbsp;

It said Pyongyang&#39;s overtures came from a position of strength, not from weakness, even as it confronts intense international pressure as well as biting economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

&quot;The dialogue peace offensive of the DPRK is an expression of self-confidence as it has acquired everything it desires,&quot; it said, using the North&#39;s official name.&nbsp;

It also slammed hawks in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for questioning the sincerity and motivation behind the North&#39;s willingness to step back from the brink.

&quot;Such rubbish as &#39;result of sanctions and pressure&#39;... spread by hostile forces is just as meaningless as a dog barking at the moon,&quot; it said, urging &quot;prudence&quot; for all parties involved.

&quot;It is really an expression of small-mindedness for the riff-raffs to spoil the atmosphere and say this or that even before the parties concerned are given a chance to study the inner thoughts of the other side and are seated at a negotiating table,&quot; it said in typically colourful language.&nbsp;

Since floating the idea for a summit with the US, &quot;the North has been carefully watching how the situation is developing, including the US-South Korea joint military drills, before making it public to the people&quot;, Professor Kim Yong-hyun at Dongguk University told.

The South and the US announced Tuesday a plan to resume annual joint military exercises on April 1, with its main drill shortened by a month - in an apparent conciliatory gesture over an event that infuriates the North.

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said the North also needs time to prepare its people for a drastic policy turnaround toward the United States.

&quot;The North won&#39;t confirm the two summits until dates and venues are fixed and it needs to educate its people through party cells slowly for a policy U-turn&quot;, Yang said.

The North&#39;s state media has not reported any public activities by Kim since March 6, when it said he held talks with South Korean envoys.

Kim learned of South Korean President Moon Jae-in&#39;s intention for an inter-Korean summit from the envoys, exchanged views and made a &quot;satisfactory agreement,&quot; the North&#39;s KCNA said at that time.

Trump&#39;s announcement earlier this month that he was willing to meet with the North&#39;s young leader - after an invitation conveyed by envoys from the South - has triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity.

The North&#39;s foreign minister Ri Yong Ho met his counterpart from Sweden, which represents Washington&#39;s interests in North Korea, in Stockholm over the weekend, with reports saying they discussed the release of three Americans detained in the North.&nbsp;

Choe Kang Il, a senior Pyongyang diplomat handling ties with the US, is currently in Finland for discussions with the retired former US ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens.&nbsp;

Moon on Wednesday said a three-way summit including the two Koreas and the US could be possible, depending on the outcomes of the inter-Korean and US-North Korean summits.

&quot;We must completely resolve the issues of denuclearising the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace&quot;, he said.

North Korea says it is driving the 'peace offensive' and rejecting suggestions that sanctions forced it to the negotiating table

North Korea has broken its silence on the diplomatic thaw with Washington and Seoul, saying it is driving the "peace offensive" and rejecting suggestions that sanctions forced it to the negotiating table. The commentary from the state-run KCNA news agency came with a rapid rapprochement on the Korean peninsula underway, after a period of heightened tensions stoked by the missile and nuclear tests. But as diplomats scurry to arrange two proposed summits - North-South talks followed by a face-to-face meet between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un - the North's silence had raised concerns over its intentions. The KCNA commentary late Tuesday did not directly mention the summits but noted the "dramatic atmosphere for reconciliation" with the South and "a sign of change" with the US. It said Pyongyang's overtures came from a position of strength, not from weakness, even as it confronts intense international pressure as well as biting economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme. "The dialogue peace offensive of the DPRK is an expression of self-confidence as it has acquired everything it desires," it said, using the North's official name. It also slammed hawks in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for questioning the sincerity and motivation behind the North's willingness to step back from the brink. "Such rubbish as 'result of sanctions and pressure'... spread by hostile forces is just as meaningless as a dog barking at the moon," it said, urging "prudence" for all parties involved. "It is really an expression of small-mindedness for the riff-raffs to spoil the atmosphere and say this or that even before the parties concerned are given a chance to study the inner thoughts of the other side and are seated at a negotiating table," it said in typically colourful language. Since floating the idea for a summit with the US, "the North has been carefully watching how the situation is developing, including the US-South Korea joint military drills, before making it public to the people", Professor Kim Yong-hyun at Dongguk University told. The South and the US announced Tuesday a plan to resume annual joint military exercises on April 1, with its main drill shortened by a month - in an apparent conciliatory gesture over an event that infuriates the North. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said the North also needs time to prepare its people for a drastic policy turnaround toward the United States. "The North won't confirm the two summits until dates and venues are fixed and it needs to educate its people through party cells slowly for a policy U-turn", Yang said. The North's state media has not reported any public activities by Kim since March 6, when it said he held talks with South Korean envoys. Kim learned of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's intention for an inter-Korean summit from the envoys, exchanged views and made a "satisfactory agreement," the North's KCNA said at that time. Trump's announcement earlier this month that he was willing to meet with the North's young leader - after an invitation conveyed by envoys from the South - has triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity. The North's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho met his counterpart from Sweden, which represents Washington's interests in North Korea, in Stockholm over the weekend, with reports saying they discussed the release of three Americans detained in the North. Choe Kang Il, a senior Pyongyang diplomat handling ties with the US, is currently in Finland for discussions with the retired former US ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens. Moon on Wednesday said a three-way summit including the two Koreas and the US could be possible, depending on the outcomes of the inter-Korean and US-North Korean summits. "We must completely resolve the issues of denuclearising the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace", he said.

North Korea denies sanctions prompted diplomatic thaw

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US invites South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to address Congress

North Korea urges US to change 'hostile policy' on eve of summit anniversary

Trump offers protection to North Korea in return for denuclearisation

North Korea denies sanctions prompted diplomatic thaw