Lee Do-hoon and Biegan "Discuss Creative Ideas"... Likely Including Declaration of the End of War

US-ROK North Korea Nuclear Chief Talks... Biegun "Need for DPRK Engagement, Discussions Open"
Lee Do-hoon "Best Recent Dialogue" Evaluation
End-of-War Declaration Survey, Support 49% VS Oppose 46%

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young, Kim Dong-pyo, Kang Nahum] The chief nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States, who met in the U.S. after three months, expressed satisfaction, saying they "discussed a wide range of constructive and creative measures to improve the situation on the Korean Peninsula." Both sides drew attention by suggesting that amid the prolonged stalemate in North Korea-U.S. talks, the need for 'North Korea's engagement' was emphasized, and discussions on a declaration to formally end the Korean War were brought to the table.

Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, after consultations with Lee Do-hoon, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the 28th (local time), told reporters at the State Department building in Washington D.C., "We had an excellent meeting and discussed various issues related to the Korean Peninsula and the U.S.-South Korea relationship, as well as constructive measures to enhance diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula." Although Biegun and Lee have frequently consulted in Washington D.C., it was unusual for them to stand together before the press immediately after the talks.

Regarding the recent shocking incident of the North Korean military shooting a South Korean official who crossed into the North, Biegun described it as a shocking event and added, "We also discussed constructive measures to continue enhancing 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. Biegun said, "I am very grateful 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 evaluation of the talks. He 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, "The U.S.-South Korea cooperation is more important than ever."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On this day, the constructive measures and creative ideas mentioned by Deputy Secretary Biegun after the U.S.-South Korea chief nuclear envoys' meeting appear to include a declaration to formally end the Korean War. With North Korea-U.S. talks stuck in a prolonged deadlock and inter-Korean dialogue also facing difficulties, this is interpreted as a willingness to find 'dialogue momentum' by promoting such a declaration. The mention of 'normalizing North Korea-U.S. relations' is also seen as a move to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.

President Moon Jae-in is also putting great effort into rekindling the flame for a declaration to formally end the war. Despite the setback caused by the incident of a South Korean citizen being shot by North Korea, the swift apology from North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un revealed an intention to turn the crisis into an opportunity. On the 28th, at a senior secretaries and advisors meeting, President Moon said, "I hope this tragic incident does not end as just an incident but becomes an opportunity to create chances for dialogue and cooperation and to advance inter-Korean relations."

Meanwhile, a public opinion poll asking whether the government should continue to push for a declaration to formally end the Korean War between North Korea and the U.S. showed a closely divided response. Realmeter announced on the 28th, based on a survey commissioned by YTN's 'The News,' that 49.0% of respondents agreed with the continued push for the declaration, while 46.0% disagreed. The gap is within the margin of error (±4.4 percentage points). By ideological inclination, progressives showed 66.8% agreement and 29.8% disagreement, conservatives showed 37.9% agreement and 55.1% disagreement, and moderates were evenly split with 46.6% agreement and 51.4% disagreement.