South Korea, U.S. will maintain strong alliance: expert

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks to a dinner hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the South Korean Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC on June 28, 2017. [Photo: AP/Cliff Owen]

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has arrived in the U.S. for a 4-day visit and his first summit with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

The two leaders are set to announce a joint declaration after their bilateral summit meeting on Friday local time.

Analysts have suggested the implementation of the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD anti-missile system, as well as the North Korean nuclear issue, will be high on the agenda.

Choi Byung-Il with the Ehwa Women's University in Seoul said Trump and Moon should agree on the basic principles of THAAD deployment, but the two countries might differ on how to resolve the North Korea nuclear issues.

"South Korea and the US have different concerns when it comes to North Korea. We do not want war in our territory, and the US does not want their mainland to be attacked. So we have stark differences on the issue and these distinctions undoubtedly will surface during the bilateral talks," said Choi.

The expert also said the two leaders will realize the importance of maintaining a strong alliance between the two countries despite differences on a variety of issues.

"Differences will certainly arise but nevertheless, we are allies. And this alliance lays the very basic foundation for security on the Korean peninsula. So we will make sure this alliance stays solid, and will also reaffirm ways to fortify mutual partnerships," added Choi.

During his inauguration ceremony earlier last month, Moon Jae-in vowed that he would further strengthen the alliance between his country and the U.S., and that he would make efforts to step up the strength of self-defense.