Awaiting the official results of a nail-biter U.S. presidential election, the American ambassador to Korea expressed confidence on Wednesday that the two nations will work together to strengthen bilateral alliance whatever the outcome.
Democrat President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney were in a tight race as vote counting began, although early vote results indicated Obama may be inching toward a victory. South Koreans also go to polls on Dec. 19 to pick their new leader.
"Whatever the outcome will be in Korea and the U.S. presidential elections, I am confident that we will have leaders in both countries who value the Korea-U.S. alliance and who are prepared to work together to strengthen the very special partnership between our two countries," Ambassador Sung Kim said at the "Election Day Watch" event hosted by his embassy in Seoul.
Whoever wins in both nations, the ambassador said, "I am confident that we will strengthen our relationship through our militaries, our economies, our experiences, our values and, most importantly, through our people."
In Seoul, polls show the upcoming presidential election is a dead heat, with ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye running neck-and-neck in hypothetical two-way races with her main rivals, main opposition candidate Moon Jae-in and independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo.
Korean President Lee Myung-bak's single five-year term ends in February 2013. By law, he cannot seek re-election. (Yonhap)