WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are leading a Senate delegation to South Korea and Japan to strengthen economic ties between our countries as well as bolster national security including by expanding quantum cooperation and exploring auxiliary shipbuilding partnerships. 

“America’s alliances with South Korea and Japan are more important than ever, which is why I’m proud to join Senator Duckworth on this delegation visit,” said Senator Kim. “Our collective futures will be stronger if we work together with common cause and common goals like growing America’s shipbuilding capabilities and expanding partnerships on next generation technologies like quantum computing and chips. With my deep family connections to South Korea and the region and large diaspora communities in New Jersey, I will work to be a bridge between the United States and these vital allies in the Indo-Pacific contributing to our national and economic security.” 

“I’m proud to lead this Senate delegation to South Korea and Japan alongside Senator Kim to build on our nations’ discussions on shipbuilding, expand quantum partnerships and strengthen the economic ties that benefit the people of each of our countries,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our sealift and auxiliary fleet is essential to our national security and the safety of our troops—and yet our fleet remains both aging and insufficient in number to support our brave warfighters around the world. It’s critical that we continue efforts to expand American shipbuilding here at home, we must also work closely with our partners and allies abroad to ensure our auxiliary fleet is as strong as possible in the event of conflict and beyond.” 

While in South Korea, Senators Kim and Duckworth met with President Lee Jae Myung, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, along with other government and military leaders. After the Senators completed their trip in South Korea, the Senators are visiting Japan to meet with various industry leaders in the shipbuilding, energy, quantum and technology sectors, including members of the Keidanren Japanese Business Federation and the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO). More details of the Senators’ meetings in Japan will be made public in the coming days. Senator Kim is also meeting with legislators during the visit, including members of the National Assembly and Diet.  

Senator Kim has continued to emphasize the critical value of the trilateral relationship between the United States, Republic of Korea, and Japan, and his commitment to fostering our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. He has also outlined the dangers of the Trump administration’s policies that cut America off from both economic opportunity and critical security partnerships, warning that these policies risk turning America from being the indispensable nation into being the unreliable nation. 

This official trip to Asia comes after Senator Kim successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill text— which passed through the Senate Armed Services Committee last month—that establishes a new security cooperation initiative to help strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region that are critical to America’s continued economic prosperity and security. Senator Kim also introduced this provision through his Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience Authorization Act. 

Senator Kim was sworn in December 9^th, 2024 as the first Korean American ever elected to the U.S. Senate and the first Asian American Senator from New Jersey. He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Senator Kim previously represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served on the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and Chinese Communist Party, House Armed Services Committee, and House Foreign Affairs Committee. Prior to being elected to Congress, he was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jersey here. 

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