National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik met with new U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel on Friday and discussed ways to boost parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries. Cho also said he expects Steel to contribute to the development of Korea-U.S. ties, citing her extensive experience and expertise in U.S. politics, and her interest in and affection for Korea. "I deeply sympathize with President (Donald) Trump's determination and commitment to opening the door to dialogue on the Korean Peninsula, where relations remain strained, and building a stable peace regime on the peninsula," Cho told Steel in their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul. He also voiced regret that the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians Union, a parliamentary group established last year to promote parliamentary exchanges between Seoul and Washington, currently lacks a counterpart in the U.S. Congress. In response, Steel stressed that there have been active discussions on ways to further develop the alliance, with Korean lawmakers visiting the U.S. nearly every year and vice versa. She vowed active support to