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Han Duck-soo, the prime minister of South Korea, sits for a photo with Vice President Kamala Harris of the US at a hotel in Tokyo on Sept. 27 while in Japan for the state funeral of Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan. (Yonhap)

US Vice President Kamala Harris is planning to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Thursday during her upcoming trip to South Korea.

Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo mentioned the visit during his opening remarks before a meeting with Harris at the Okura Tokyo Hotel on Tuesday morning.

“And our government and the Korean people are very much looking forward to seeing you in person in Korea,” said Han, adding, “Her visit to the DMZ during her trip to Seoul will be very symbolic.”

Han and Harris’s meeting on Tuesday took place while the two were in Japan to attend the state funeral of Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan.

Cho Hyun-dong, Korea’s first vice minister of foreign affairs, told the press after the meeting that Han had said that Harris’s visit to the DMZ will send a “stern message” to North Korea.

Harris’ planned visit to the DMZ had been kept secret until Han mentioned it during his remarks on Tuesday. During a briefing on Friday about Harris’ trip to Korea, a high-ranking official in the US government ducked a question about whether Harris intended to see the DMZ.

The Associated Press reported that White House officials accompanying Harris had been caught off guard by Han’s remarks about the secret visit but rushed to confirm it.

Han also used the meeting on Tuesday to convey Korea’s concerns about discriminatory aspects of the US’ Inflation Reduction Act and to ask the US government to pay close attention and provide the necessary assistance.

“Vice President Harris said the US would continue to seek ways to remedy concerns about the transitional period until [Korean companies] begin to produce electric vehicles in the US through close deliberations with us,” Cho said.

By Kim Hae-jeong, staff reporter; Lee Bon-young, Washington correspondent

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