Haines Visits Cheong... Will Discuss North Korea Nuclear Issue with President Moon?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Avril Haines, Director of the U.S. National Intelligence (DNI), who is the head of U.S. intelligence agencies, will pay a courtesy call on President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House on the third day of her visit to Korea on the 14th.

According to diplomatic circles on the day, Director Haines is reportedly coordinating a schedule to meet President Moon at the Blue House. This will be the first visit in about 2 years and 2 months since former Director Dan Coats met President Moon in March 2019 after the 'Hanoi No Deal.' The Blue House stated that they "cannot confirm" this.

President Moon is expected to meet with Director Haines to receive a briefing on the U.S.'s new North Korea policy and exchange opinions on various issues such as the North Korean nuclear problem and Northeast Asian affairs.

The previous day, Director Haines toured the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the Joint Security Area (JSA), and the 'Dobodari' bridge where the two Koreas' leaders walked during the 2018 inter-Korean summit. In the evening, she held a dinner meeting at a hotel in Seoul with Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, and Robert Rapson, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea.

It is interpreted that the DNI Director, who generally does not disclose her itinerary, openly revealed her visit to the frontline bordering North Korea as a message to the North to "come to the dialogue table."