Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Reviewing the End of Existing Korea-US Working Group... Strengthening Director-General Level Consultations on North Korean Nuclear Issue" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Korea-US working group, a practical consultative body established to discuss denuclearization and inter-Korean cooperation, is expected to be disbanded. This appears to be due to North Korea expressing dissatisfaction, citing the working group as a cause of the breakdown in inter-Korean dialogue.

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "During the Korea-US senior representatives' consultation on North Korea's nuclear issue, it was agreed to review the current operation status of the existing Korea-US working group and to consider disbanding the existing working group."

The working group was created in November 2018 at South Korea's request to discuss exemptions from sanctions on inter-Korean cooperation projects, but it has been criticized for actually hindering inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

North Korea has also criticized the working group as an example of "pro-American servility." On June 17 last year, along with the demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, issued a statement pointing out, "Before the ink on the agreement dried, the master’s compulsive 'Korea-US working group' was blindly accepted, and every issue was served to the White House, which has now resulted in today's tragic consequences."

The agreement to consider disbanding the working group during the Korea-US senior representatives' consultation is interpreted as leaving room for North Korea, which has been observing the situation, to come to the dialogue table. Special Representative for North Korea Affairs Sung Kim stated on the 21st, "We look forward to North Korea's response to the proposal for dialogue."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Going forward, Korea and the US will strengthen consultations not only between senior representatives on North Korea's nuclear issue but also at the director-general level," adding, "We will continue to discuss specific measures."