S. Korea, US in talks for regular meeting on coordinating N. Korea policy
Foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il speaks during a regular press briefing at the ministry in central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
South Korea and the United States are in discussions to hold a regular meeting on coordinating the allies' policy on North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Park Il, the foreign ministry spokesperson, made the remarks in a regular press briefing, saying working-level talks have been under way for months to hash out the details of the proposed meeting.
"Through the meeting, we plan to discuss overall policy toward North Korea, including ways to bring the North back to the dialogue table," Park said.
Seoul and Washington have reportedly reached a consensus on the need to have such a regular channel to enable timely consultations on North Korea-related issues. However, the two sides are not considering setting up a permanent consultative body, according to officials.
The move comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to mend frayed ties with North Korean and resume dialogue despite Pyongyang's silence toward Seoul's peace overtures.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy.
Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim reaffirmed Monday that the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea remains the policy shared with South Korea, after the phrase was absent from a new U.S. security strategy document.