After a Month, US Hosts ROK-US-Japan Senior Nuclear Envoys... Can They Lead North Korea to the Dialogue Table?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The senior representatives for North Korea nuclear issues from South Korea, the United States, and Japan will meet in Washington, USA, on the 19th to hold consultations. It has been about a month since they last met in Tokyo, Japan, on the 14th of last month, and attention is focused on whether they can bring North Korea to the negotiating table.

No Kyu-duk, Director of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiation Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who visited Washington for the North Korea nuclear senior representatives' consultations, will hold talks with Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, on the 18th (local time). On the 19th, Takehiro Funakoshi, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will also join for separate South Korea-Japan and South Korea-U.S.-Japan consultations.

During these consultations, proposals made by the South Korean government to resume dialogue with North Korea, including humanitarian aid and a declaration to formally end the Korean War, are expected to be discussed. On the 16th, at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC, Director No told reporters, "We expect substantive consultations at the working level on various measures, including the declaration to formally end the war."

Director No explained that the declaration to formally end the war "holds significance as an entry point for dialogue leading to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace," and that the South Korean and U.S. governments are reviewing it from multiple angles through consultations.

However, regarding the four-party declaration to formally end the war proposed by former President Moon Jae-in involving South Korea, North Korea, the U.S., and China, there are criticisms that significant progress in discussions is difficult to expect since the U.S. has consistently maintained a lukewarm stance despite South Korea, North Korea, and China showing support.

Regarding the possibility of a change in the U.S. position, Director No said that during consultations with Special Representative Sung Kim in Indonesia last month, they agreed to continue in-depth review, adding, "We expect productive and good consultations this time as well."

It remains uncertain whether a breakthrough to bring North Korea to the negotiating table will emerge from this North Korea nuclear senior representatives' consultation. The last consultation held in Tokyo last month only confirmed the strengthening of trilateral cooperation regarding North Korea's launch of long-range cruise missiles.

Even if discussions on the declaration to formally end the war progress through consultations, North Korea may not respond positively. Kim Ji-young, Editor-in-Chief of Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), stated at a symposium held on the 16th at the Japan Trade Union Confederation Hall in Tokyo, "North Korea judged that adopting a declaration to formally end the war, which is merely a political declaration, does not help stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula at all and could be misused as a smokescreen to conceal the U.S.'s hostile policy."