By Kang Hyun-kyung
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-hwan is scheduled to meet his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton on June 24 in Washington for policy consultation on North Korea, just at a time when inter-Korean relations are extremely sensitive.
The two sides will reportedly discuss ways to handle the burial of toxic material Agent Orange in 1978 at a military base in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province, and move the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement forward in their parliaments.
Neither parliament has yet to ratify the trade accord.
Before the talks with Clinton, Kim will meet with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to proclaim support for Ban getting a second term as secretary general Friday. His reelection is expected to be completed next week.
Kim is expected to congratulate Ban on his successful reelection campaign.
During his U.S. trip, the South Korean foreign minister is also planning to meet with U.S. lawmakers and think tank experts.
North Korea will be on top of the agenda at the Kim-Clinton meeting, Seoul officials said.
“South-North Korea relations have deteriorated since May when the North disclosed secret contacts in Beijing,” a high-ranking government official said on condition of anonymity. “But this doesn’t mean that inter-Korean relations have hit the lowest point because they were worse last year.”
The official referred to the North’s provocations last year. It sank the warship Cheonan and launched an artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island in waters near the maritime border in the West Sea.
The official said Seoul and Washington have watched North Korea closely for possible fresh provocations. The Stalinist state showed a pattern of turning to provocative acts when inter-Korean relations turn sour.
“But at the moment there are no signs foretelling that the volatile North would seek another bellicose act,” he said.