Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
US may resume North Korean humanitarian aid
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun speaks to reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. Yonhap
By Kim Bo-eun
By Kim Bo-eun
Hopes are growing for a possible breakthrough in the stalemate in denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington, after a key U.S. official visiting South Korea referred to possible resumption of humanitarian aid to the North.
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said the U.S. is reviewing possible exemptions to the ban on U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea regarding humanitarian aid. He also referred to improving 70 years of hostile relations after arriving at Incheon International Airport.
“We will also review American citizens' travel to North Korea for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of aid and ensure that monitoring in line with international standards can occur,” he said.
Improving bilateral relations is among the agreements North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump reached at their historic summit in June.
The U.S. official had refrained from making any public remarks on his previous visits. His statement this time is seen as a message from Washington to Pyongyang. Biegun stated the review on the travel ban for humanitarian aid purposes was a direction from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The remarks come under circumstances in which high-level talks to address North Korea's denuclearization steps and corresponding measures from the U.S. remain indefinitely postponed, due to Pyongyang's silence.
Tension grew as Washington stepped up pressure against Pyongyang for its abysmal human rights violations, imposing sanctions on high-ranking North Korean officials for their involvement in the situation. The North responded by stating the situation could cap efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
While the statement concerned humanitarian aid, the U.S. is seen as possibly taking a more flexible stance with the North, raising hopes of progress in bilateral denuclearization negotiations.
Biegun is here for a working group meeting with South Korean officials. The working group launched last month for closer coordination between the countries on inter-Korean matters and the North's denuclearization.
The working group meeting will take place today. Biegun will also meet with Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and security officials at Cheong Wa Dae. The working group meeting is set to discuss North Korea's denuclearization, as well as inter-Korean affairs. The meeting is likely to address the issue of sanctions related to holding a ceremony marking the launch of inter-Korean railway and road projects that will be held next week.
A day earlier, Biegun spoke with his South Korean counterpart, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, over dinner.
Biegun visited the truce village of Panmunjeom the same day to examine the implementation of an inter-Korean military accord reached at President Moon Jae-in's third summit with the North Korean leader in September. Among the agreements is demilitarizing the Joint Security Area.
The U.S. official did not meet with North Korean officials, despite speculations.