'US-North Korea seeing progress in relations'

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom responds to questions in a media briefing, Friday. Yonhap

By Kim Yoo-chul

A Cheong Wa Dae official said Friday that South Korea expects the ongoing dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang on the North's denuclearization will bring about improvements in their decades-long hostile relationship.

“South Korea is hoping to see a big step in relations between the United States and North Korea in the near future,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters when asked what Seoul thought of remarks by United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“It seems apparent that something is happening in the relationship between Washington and Pyongyang. Momentum is continuing as South Korea is seeing progress in the improved relationship between the former foes,” Kim said in a media briefing.

The response from the presidential office came a few hours after Pompeo said that he hopes that talks with North Korea on denuclearization would lead to a “big step before too long.”

“So, we are now many months with no additional missile tests. Many months with no additional nuclear testing from the North Koreans,” Pompeo said at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Donald Trump, early Friday (KST).

The promise of returning the remains of Americans who died during the Korean War 65 years ago was also fulfilled, he added. Trump also stated that the relationship with Pyongyang “seems very good,” according to pool reports.

Seoul officials say the United States and North Korea will hold “working-level” discussions ahead of Pompeo's scheduled visit to Pyongyang, which could happen sometime this month.

“Given the latest enhancements in the relationship between Seoul and Pyongyang and Pyongyang and Washington, all of them swore to keep the talks on denuclearization alive, chances are high that President Moon will officially ask North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit Washington in their third summit in Pyongyang in September,” a source familiar with the issue said.

Kim declined to specify when Seoul will send an advance team to Pyongyang ahead of the summit or the overall composition of the delegation that will accompany Moon.

“I want you to wait for further announcements about those issues as details have yet to be fixed,” said the spokesman.