The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Sun, December 8, 2019 | 11:59
Politics
US waits North Korea response to restart denuke talks: US envoy
Posted : 2019-08-21 16:56
Updated : 2019-08-21 18:14
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
U.S. special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun, left, talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, second from right, during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, Aug. 21. AP-Yonhap
U.S. special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun, left, talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, second from right, during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, Aug. 21. AP-Yonhap

By Kim Yoo-chul

Washington is waiting for a response from Pyongyang to resume working-level discussions on denuclearization as the United States is ready to engage with Pyongyang, a senior U.S. government official said, Wednesday.

"Regarding the restarting of the negotiation, we're prepared to engage as soon as we hear from our counterparts in North Korea," U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said in a short press briefing after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We discussed a number of issues of mutual interest to our government and continued our close cooperation on matters related to North Korea. I appreciate this strong and continued cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan," he added.

Biegun dispelled speculations that he would replace outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Jon Huntsman as U.S. President Donald Trump has assigned him to restart working-level negotiations.

"I wanted to dispel any rumors that I'll be leaving this portfolio to take up an ambassadorship abroad. I will not be taking up a diplomatic posting in the Russian Federation and I will remain focused on making progress on North Korea. President Trump gave me and my team the assignment to restart working-level negotiations with North Korea. I'm fully committed to this important mission and we will get this done," he said leaving the ministry headquarters without taking any questions from the media.

Biegun plans to visit Cheong Wa Dae today for talks on various issues of mutual interest with deputy National Security Office chief Kim Hyun-chong, according to sources.

The Biegun-Lee meeting came a few hours after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed displeasure, Wednesday morning (KST), with the North's recent missile tests, asking the North Korean leader to come to the table. "It will be better for the North Korean people and it will be better for the world," Pompeo said.

In a historic encounter between Trump and Kim at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjeom in June, the two agreed to resume talks aimed at denuclearizing the North in a "couple of weeks." But no progress has been made so far .

U.S. special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun, left, talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, second from right, during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, Aug. 21. AP-Yonhap
Kim Sang-jo, chief of staff for policy at Cheong Wa Dae, responds to a question at a forum held in Seoul, Aug. 21. Yonhap

Separately, Cheong Wa Dae's chief of staff for policy Kim Sang-jo said the government will continue to review ways on how to retain the bilateral military pact with Japan, known as GSOMIA.

"The government will review whether or not to extend the General Security of Military Information Agreement pact with Japan until the last moment. No final decision has been made," he told participants in a forum held in Seoul.

Aug. 24 is the deadline for Seoul to notify Tokyo of its final decision as to whether or not it will extend the pact for another year. The presidential aide added the government is considering using the withdrawal of GSOMIA as "one card" to take on Japan's recent decision to remove South Korea from its list of most trusted trading partners.

"The point is for the government to stabilize the supply line, lessen dependence on imports (of core materials) and maintain consistency," the presidential aide said, adding Japan's export curbs are connected with the wartime forced labor issue.


Emailyckim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
N. Korea says 'no interest in denuke talks' as long as South-US military drills in place
North Korea said Thursday it has no interest in dialogue as long as South Korea and the United States keep up military threats against it, a day after two F-35 stealth fighters arr...
Seoul asked to speak up over Pyongyang's military threats
While U.S. President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in have intentionally underestimated the significance of North Korea's missile launches, conducted to protest joint Washing...








 
 
  • numberSeoul's changing face: A glimpse of the 1920-30s city
  • numberWartime documents show Japan's role in recruiting comfort women: Kyodo
  • numberIndian woman who alleged gang-rape dies after burn attack
  • numberMoon, Trump agree on need to maintain dialogue momentum over North Korea
  • numberSwine fever-infected wild boars on steady rise in Korea
  • numberPet-caused fires on rise in Seoul: data
  • numberUS has not yet decided whether to hold UN meeting on North Korea rights abuses
  • numberSlain Maltese reporter lived in fear, family says
  • numberChina hopes to 'strengthen cooperation' with Hong Kong police
  • numberKorean figure skater Lee Hae-in finishes 5th in Junior Grand Prix Final
  • Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea
  • Korean pop culture producers eyeing Southeast Asia Korean pop culture producers eyeing Southeast Asia
  • Actor Lee Si-eon turns to serious character in thriller film 'Killed My Wife' Actor Lee Si-eon turns to serious character in thriller film 'Killed My Wife'
  • BTS' 'Boy with Luv' most-viewed YouTube music video in Korea in 2019 BTS' 'Boy with Luv' most-viewed YouTube music video in Korea in 2019
  • BTS performs at 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert [PHOTOS] BTS performs at 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert [PHOTOS]
DARKROOM
  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • Halloween

    Halloween

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright