By Yi Whan-woo
The government has explained "considerable details" of the high-level talks between South and North Korean officials, Saturday, to senior U.S. diplomats who were visiting Seoul, Monday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We've been working closely with the U.S. regarding the inter-Korean issues and it was also the case this time," a ministry official said Monday on condition of anonymity.
Earlier on the day, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel told reporters that Washington supports inter-Korean efforts to mend their strained ties.
"I made clear that as is consistent element of U.S. policy, the U.S. supports the efforts on the part of the Republic of Korea to promote and enhance inter-Korean relations," he said. "As always we found the consultations in Seoul to be very direct, very useful, and very collaborative."
Russel and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear met Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-so. They also met Cheong Wa Dae officials.
They arrived in South Korea, Sunday, a day after the surprise visit by Pyongyang's 11-member delegation.
The North Korean envoys included three close confidants of North Korean leader Kimg Jong-un ― Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon. Hwang, vice chairman of the Pyongyang's most powerful National Defense Commission (NDC), led the delegation.
They made the 12-hour trip ostensibly to attend the closing ceremony of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. However, their sudden visit provided an opportunity for the South Korean government to discuss ways to mend strained ties between the two Koreas.
The Pyongyang delegates agreed to have more inter-Korean talks in their lunch meeting with Seoul's National Security Adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae.
The two sides reached a deal to hold another round of high-level talks later this month or in early November to discuss issues such as reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
"We discussed regional issues including the relations between Japan and (South) Korea, which are hugely important to the region and to the U.S. and the recent visit to Seoul of the North Korean NDC vice chairman Mr. Hwang," Russel said.
The two U.S. diplomats stopped by Seoul on their way to before their trip to Tokyo to discuss revision of the defense guidelines between the U.S. and Japan.
The foreign ministry said they briefed on the discussions to revise defense cooperation guidelines with Tokyo in line with Japan's move to increase the role of its military. It added an interim report on the defense guidelines is likely to be released this week.
"I know that the government of Japan similarly has that kind of open and direct dialogue through appropriate channels (with South Korea) And this enables us to ensure that vitally important partner, the Republic of Korea, has full visibility into the positive agenda we are working on," Russel said.
Shear said that the revision of the defense guidelines "will not only strengthen the U.S.-Japan relations, but it will strengthen peace and stability throughout the region."
During their meeting, Seoul and Washington also discussed the annual defense ministerial talks known as the Security Consultative Meeting.
Other items on the agenda included the U.S.-led efforts to defeat Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and ways to halt spread of Ebola.
Russel left for Japan on late Monday.
Shear held a meeting with Defense Minister Han Min-koo later on the day. He will fly to Tokyo today.
The government has explained "considerable details" of the high-level talks between South and North Korean officials, Saturday, to senior U.S. diplomats who were visiting Seoul, Monday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We've been working closely with the U.S. regarding the inter-Korean issues and it was also the case this time," a ministry official said Monday on condition of anonymity.
Earlier on the day, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel told reporters that Washington supports inter-Korean efforts to mend their strained ties.
"I made clear that as is consistent element of U.S. policy, the U.S. supports the efforts on the part of the Republic of Korea to promote and enhance inter-Korean relations," he said. "As always we found the consultations in Seoul to be very direct, very useful, and very collaborative."
Russel and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear met Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-so. They also met Cheong Wa Dae officials.
They arrived in South Korea, Sunday, a day after the surprise visit by Pyongyang's 11-member delegation.
The North Korean envoys included three close confidants of North Korean leader Kimg Jong-un ― Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon. Hwang, vice chairman of the Pyongyang's most powerful National Defense Commission (NDC), led the delegation.
They made the 12-hour trip ostensibly to attend the closing ceremony of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. However, their sudden visit provided an opportunity for the South Korean government to discuss ways to mend strained ties between the two Koreas.
The Pyongyang delegates agreed to have more inter-Korean talks in their lunch meeting with Seoul's National Security Adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae.
The two sides reached a deal to hold another round of high-level talks later this month or in early November to discuss issues such as reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
"We discussed regional issues including the relations between Japan and (South) Korea, which are hugely important to the region and to the U.S. and the recent visit to Seoul of the North Korean NDC vice chairman Mr. Hwang," Russel said.
The two U.S. diplomats stopped by Seoul on their way to before their trip to Tokyo to discuss revision of the defense guidelines between the U.S. and Japan.
The foreign ministry said they briefed on the discussions to revise defense cooperation guidelines with Tokyo in line with Japan's move to increase the role of its military. It added an interim report on the defense guidelines is likely to be released this week.
"I know that the government of Japan similarly has that kind of open and direct dialogue through appropriate channels (with South Korea) And this enables us to ensure that vitally important partner, the Republic of Korea, has full visibility into the positive agenda we are working on," Russel said.
Shear said that the revision of the defense guidelines "will not only strengthen the U.S.-Japan relations, but it will strengthen peace and stability throughout the region."
During their meeting, Seoul and Washington also discussed the annual defense ministerial talks known as the Security Consultative Meeting.
Other items on the agenda included the U.S.-led efforts to defeat Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and ways to halt spread of Ebola.
Russel left for Japan on late Monday.
Shear held a meeting with Defense Minister Han Min-koo later on the day. He will fly to Tokyo today.
