United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the bilateral friendship in his greetings to the Korean people on the occasion of the Chuseok holiday in a press statement on Thursday.

In the statement, Blinken wished the Korean people a joyous Chuseok holiday, adding that he is reminded of the importance of the relationships remaining strong and resilient amid many difficult challenges over the past two years.

He expressed gratitude for "the longstanding friendship between our two countries and the ever-closer relations that we are building towards in the future."

Blinken then said that the bilateral alliance is built on the shared belief in a democratic and free global order, stressing the commitment to "tackle emerging challenges throughout the Indo-Pacific region and the world."

The U.S. State Department has released press statements marking major Korean holidays and commemoration days in the past, including Chuseok and Independence Day.