S. Korea, US reaffirm 'close and transparent' cooperation

By Choi Ha-young

Chung Eui-yong, left, and H.R. McMaster

Top security advisers from Seoul and Washington vowed “close and transparent cooperation” between the allies in containing North Korea’s further provocations, South Korea’s presidential spokesman said Friday following their phone conversation.

On Friday, Chung Eui-yong, the chief of Seoul’s Presidential National Security Office, and his U.S. counterpart H.R. McMaster discussed “measures in each stage” to be taken in accordance with the growing threats posed by the nuclear-armed country.

“To ensure the two countries’ security and our citizens’ safety, the two sides reaffirmed their promise to closely and transparently cooperate on the future steps that will be taken in each stage,” presidential spokesman Park Su-hyun said.

The dialogue is an apparent signal to quell the concerns in South Korea that it may be isolated in the U.S.’s possible military actions against the North. The spokesman refused to reveal details of the measures citing security reasons.

Following North Korea’s continued intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test-firings on July 4 and 28, the tension around the Korean Peninsula is palpably growing as seen by the bombastic rhetoric between Pyongyang and Washington.

Earlier on Monday, President Moon Jae-in and his counterpart Donald Trump shared opinions on the grave security crisis and discussed joint measures to make the North scrap its nuclear and missile programs.