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| Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul delivers a keynote speech during a forum on peace on the Korean Peninsula at the Westin Chosun Seoul, Wednesday. |
By Park Ji-won, Kim Yoo-chul
The United States and North Korea are preparing for a new denuclearization agreement, according to Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, Wednesday.
"The North and the United States are preparing for a new agreement based on the results of the Hanoi summit between their leaders," the minister said at the start of a forum titled "Korea Global Forum for Peace," held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, and cohosted by the ministry and the Sejong Institute, a local think-tank.
Kim stressed nuclear negotiators from Seoul, Washington and Beijing are exploring ways to narrow the stances of the two and restart multilateral nuclear diplomacy before a possible third North Korea-United States summit.
According to Kim, Washington and Pyongyang "need a certain period of time to narrow technical differences, but more specifically, it is important for them to resume talks as soon as possible."
During the speech, Minister Kim thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for embracing the risks of "personal and top-down nuclear diplomacy." But he also highlighted the significance of working-level talks to ensure a third Trump-Kim summit happens soon.
"Along with the top-down approach, working-level negotiations should be held so that the two countries can narrow their differences. It is desirable for these talks to lead eventually to actual results," the minister told participants, urging the North to present a detailed plan for dismantling its nuclear program.
Since the failure of the Hanoi summit in February, talks between the North and the United States aimed at Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament have been stalled. But the general momentum is still alive as Trump said recently he received a "beautiful letter" from Kim and was open for another person-to-person meeting with the North Korean leader.
Senior South Korean nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday (KST), where he told reporters Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to North Korea "could provide a fresh impetus" in breaking the denuclearization impasse.
Lee, who is set to meet his Washington counterpart Stephen Biegun during his four-day visit, added he hopes to have talks with him about making joint efforts for a third U.S.-North Korea summit "earlier than expected."
"This is because further progress toward building a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula would be dependent upon the outcome of a third Trump-Kim summit. Xi's visit to China is expected to improve things in terms of advancing the nuclear disarmament talks and resuming discussions between Washington and Pyongyang," Lee said.
South Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Yoon-jae also remained upbeat about the prospects of the early resumption of talks between the U.S. and North Korea.
"Considering Trump's response to North Korean leader Kim's letter and the delivery of a condolence letter and flowers by Kim Jong-un's only sister Kim Yo-jong on the death of former first lady Lee Hee-ho, I can fairly say there are some hopeful signs for the early resumption of nuclear dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang," Cho told reporters in a meeting with the South Korean media. His remarks were confirmed by the foreign ministry in Seoul.
Trump plans to hold a "brief summit" with President Moon on June 30 near Seoul to discuss the North Korea nuclear issue, on his way back to Washington, D.C., after his participation in the G20 meeting to be held in Osaka, Japan, from June 27 to 29.
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