Ambassador Sung Kim Visits Korea Today... Expected to Discuss North Korean Missiles and Declaration of End of War

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, will visit South Korea on the 22nd for consultations between the South Korean and U.S. chief nuclear negotiators.

After arriving on the same day, Representative Kim will meet with Noh Kyu-duk, Director General of the South Korean Peace Negotiations Office for the Korean Peninsula, on the 23rd to discuss key issues related to the Korean Peninsula, including the North Korean nuclear issue.

This marks their first meeting in about five days since gathering in Washington DC on the 18th (local time), and attention is focused on whether progress will be made in discussions on the "Declaration of the End of the War" proposed by President Moon Jae-in during this consultation.

Our side views the Declaration of the End of the War as an opportunity to open inter-Korean-U.S. talks based on mutual trust and has been persuading the U.S. on this issue through various levels of consultation. In previous talks, Representative Kim and Director General Noh devoted considerable time to discussing the Declaration of the End of the War, and Kim expressed that he "looks forward to continuing discussions on the Declaration of the End of the War." The U.S. side is conducting an internal review of the implications of the declaration, and Representative Kim may convey the results of this review during this visit.

Additionally, regarding the new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) North Korea fired on the 19th, discussions between the two countries are expected to cover North Korea's intentions and the potential impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Representative Kim, who also serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, will depart for Indonesia on the 24th after these consultations.