'1 Year Since Hanoi Summit' Lee Do-hoon-Vice President Biegun Call "Discussing Cooperation Plans for Korean Peninsula Denuclearization"

First Vice Minister Jo Se-young also spoke with Biegun, requesting "Please refrain from excessive measures"

Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Steve Biegun, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy at the Department of State, are holding a brief press conference on the 16th at the briefing room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Lee Do-hoon, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, held a telephone consultation on the morning of the 27th with Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, at Biegun's request.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Both sides shared assessments of the developments on the Korean Peninsula since the U.S.-South Korea senior nuclear envoys' meeting held in Washington last January, and discussed cooperation measures between the two countries for substantial progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace."

This consultation was reportedly held at the request of Deputy Secretary Biegun. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un held their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27-28 last year.

Additionally, Cho Se-young, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, also spoke with Deputy Secretary Biegun on the same day and provided a detailed explanation of South Korea's COVID-19 response measures, which are being implemented based on a high level of testing capacity and a strong commitment to preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.

Vice Minister Cho particularly emphasized that by promptly and transparently disclosing relevant information domestically and internationally and implementing scientific containment measures, South Korea is contributing to effective quarantine efforts.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Vice Minister Cho requested restraint from excessive measures that could unnecessarily shrink exchanges between the two countries," and added, "Both South Korea and the U.S. agreed to continue close communication and cooperation for effective responses related to COVID-19."

Earlier, the U.S. Department of State raised its travel advisory for South Korea from Level 2, 'Exercise Increased Caution,' to Level 3, 'Reconsider Travel,' on the 26th (local time), following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This upgrade by one level in just four days leaves only one step before Level 4, 'Do Not Travel.'