U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Liberation Day by stressing the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, calling Korea an "indispensable partner" for the United States.
Minister Rubio released a press statement on Aug. 14 local time to commemorate Liberation Day, saying, "On behalf of the U.S. government, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of Korea as you celebrate your national holiday."
On the South Korea-U.S. relationship, Rubio said, "The United States remains proud to stand with Korea, an indispensable partner, as we continue to work together to expand prosperity and to support the excellent people-to-people ties that bind our nations together."
Rubio said, "For more than 70 years, the United States and Korea have built an alliance founded on shared values, mutual trust, and a firm commitment to each other's security and prosperity."
He also emphasized that cooperation between the two countries in the economic and industrial sectors has been expanding recently. Minister Rubio said, "Following President Donald Trump's historic state visit to Korea in the fall, the United States and Korea ushered in a historic new era in our bilateral relationship as we deepened cooperation on a wide range of issues, including economic security, critical minerals and shipbuilding."