President Yoon Suk Yeol stated during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the U.S.-ROK alliance is resilient enough to overcome any conflicts of interest or issues that may arise. Presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon informed reporters at a press briefing that Yoon described South Korea and the United States as “a resilient value-based alliance that can fully readjust even when their interests are in conflict or when there is trouble.”

Although Lee did not confirm whether Yoon was addressing recent allegations of U.S. eavesdropping on South Korean officials, he compared the two countries to brothers who may occasionally argue but ultimately remain family. Yoon is scheduled to travel to Washington for a state visit and summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on April 26 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the alliance.