Lee Do-hoon, Head of the Korean Peninsula Headquarters, Calls Recent Talks "Best So Far"
Prolonged Deadlock in North Korea-US Talks... Vice Secretary Biegun Emphasizes "Need for North Korea's Engagement"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The chief nuclear negotiators of South Korea and the United States, who met in the U.S. after three months, discussed a wide range of constructive and creative measures to improve the situation on the Korean Peninsula and expressed satisfaction with the meeting. Both sides reiterated their willingness to resume talks, emphasizing the need for "North Korea's engagement" amid the prolonged stalemate in North Korea-U.S. dialogue.
Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, said on the 28th (local time) after consultations with Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that they had "an excellent meeting and discussed various issues related to the Korean Peninsula and South Korea-U.S. relations," adding, "We discussed constructive measures to promote diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula." Although Biegun and Lee have frequently held consultations in Washington, D.C., it is unusual for them to appear together before the press after such talks.
Regarding the recent shocking incident of the North Korean military shooting a South Korean official who crossed into the North, Deputy Secretary Biegun described it as a shocking event and added, "We also discussed constructive ways to continue promoting diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula." He further explained, "The goal is to achieve permanent peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, bring a bright future to the Korean people, and normalize North Korea-U.S. relations."
Both sides appear to have shared creative ideas to improve the situation on the Korean Peninsula and exchanged views on ways to resume dialogue with North Korea. Deputy Secretary Biegun expressed gratitude for the "creative ideas we discussed today," emphasizing, "However, this cannot be done by the U.S. and South Korea alone. We need North Korea's engagement, and discussions with them remain open."
Director General Lee also gave a positive assessment of the consultations. Before departing for the U.S., Lee stated that he would discuss all current issues, including the "Korean Peninsula End-of-War Declaration" proposed by President Moon Jae-in at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the recent incident involving the North Korean military shooting the South Korean official who crossed into the North.
Standing alongside Deputy Secretary Biegun before the press, Lee said, "We discussed various ways to manage the situation given the circumstances, how to resume dialogue, and how to advance the shared tasks of denuclearization and establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula within that dialogue." He added, "I think this was the best dialogue we've had recently," emphasizing, "South Korea-U.S. cooperation is more important than ever."
The "constructive measures" and "creative ideas" mentioned by Deputy Secretary Biegun after the South Korea-U.S. chief nuclear negotiators' meeting appear to include the End-of-War Declaration. With North Korea-U.S. talks stuck in a long-term deadlock and inter-Korean dialogue also facing difficulties, this reflects a willingness to seek "dialogue momentum" by promoting measures such as the End-of-War Declaration. The mention of "normalizing North Korea-U.S. relations" is also interpreted as a move to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.
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