U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday underscored the strong partnership between Korea and the U.S. in a rare meeting with the foreign business community to reassure companies that have shown rising concern for the high-strung inter-Korean ties.

Adding that President Obama “does not bluff,” he stressed that the U.S. would continue to press for a peaceful resolution to the North Korean situation.

Kerry also reiterated Washington’s commitment to talking Beijing into helping resolve Seoul’s current standoff with North Korea.

“Tomorrow, I am going to meet with the Chinese leaders who have more capacity to make a difference than anyone. Everybody knows it including them, and I know they take it seriously,” Kerry said during the meeting hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. 

“We have to begin with the reality, which is that if your policy is denuclearization, as it is everybody’s, you gotta put some teeth into it.”

Kerry, who said he had voted for every free trade agreement, also showed appreciation for the efforts of AMCHAM and others who helped get the Korea-U.S. FTA through, calling it “a great accomplishment.”

Over 200 guests including leaders of Korea’s four major economic organizations ― Korea International Trade Association chairman Han Duk-soo, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, the Korea Employers Federation chairman Lee Hee-beom, Federation of Korean Industries vice chairman Lee Seung-chul, U.S. Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim, AMCHAM chairman and Boeing Korea president Pat Gaines and AMCHAM president Amy Jackson ― attended the meeting.

“The event was originally not on Kerry’s agenda, but was arranged at the last minute in consideration of the recent North Korean situation,” said an AMCHAM official.

“The occasion is expected to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.”

Foreign companies doing business here have been receiving calls of concern from their global headquarters over how they should cope with the escalating North Korean threats.

Part of Kerry’s intention for the meeting with the foreign business community was to offer reassurance to these enterprises to make sure business continues as usual, those close to the issue said.

Earlier Friday, Kerry paid a courtesy visit to President Park Geun-hye and met with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, just 10 days after their first round of talks in Washington, D.C.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)