Anchor: President Moon Jae-in met with a visiting U.S. congressional delegation in Seoul on Monday. He thanked them for seeking a diplomatic solution as well as applying pressure on North Korea for its provocations.
Our Bae Joo-yon has more.
 
Report: President Moon Jae-in thanked a group of visiting U.S. lawmakers for sending messages to North Korea seeking a diplomatic solution to the North’s provocations while also applying strong sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang through legislation.
 
Moon conveyed the stance at the presidential office when he met with U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Ted Yoho and Congressmen Ami Bera and Brad Schneider as well as Congresswoman Jenniffer González.
 
The president said he is grateful for Washington's support of South Korea’s North Korea policies.
 
He also thanked the U.S. lawmakers for calling on China to stop its retaliation against South Korea in protest of the deployment of the THAAD antimissile system. Moon said he hopes to visit Congress and to deliver a speech if he’s given the chance.
 
Royce said he would like to emphasize that Seoul and Washington's special ties are the U.S.’ cornerstone in Northeast Asia. In particular, he said that bilateral ties have placed focus on economic opportunities during the past 20 years, stressing that economic growth and the creation of jobs are becoming win-win factors for both sides.
 
Royce said human exchanges, including exchanges among college students, provided significant opportunities. He said that as a cosponsor of the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement(FTA), he is content that bilateral trade surged more than 200 million dollars through the trade accord.
 
Royce said his goal is to further deepen cooperation between Seoul and Washington. He said that, in particular, he will seek to boost the KORUS FTA so that the deal will promote investment and economic activities.
 
He noted that CJ Food increased investment in the U.S., expanding employment from 70 to 270 and is exporting dumplings to countries around the world. He said such activities can be spotted in all parts of the U.S.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.