Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
North Korea needs 'comprehensive' approach: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks at a press conference at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
Multilateral dialogue is premature
By Lee Min-hyung
North Korea needs to take a more “comprehensive approach” to advance the stalled denuclearization talks with the United States, South Korea's foreign minister said Thursday.
“My view is that the North should expand the scope (of thinking) and look into the issue in a more comprehensive manner,” Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said at a press conference. “The U.S. wants to hold a comprehensive dialogue with the North in such a manner.”
Her remark came amid the months-long stalemate between Washington and Pyongyang over the talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Following the breakdown of the Hanoi summit in February between leaders from both sides, the countries have failed to narrow their differences in approaches and measures for the peninsula's nuclear disarmament.
Despite the ongoing deadlock, the South Korean foreign minister argued that Washington and Pyongyang should do their utmost to sign a “good deal” that can satisfy both sides.
“It is crucial for the U.S. and the North to sign a good deal,” she said. “To do so, the North will be carrying out analysis on a variety of signals from the U.S.”
As a mediator for the nuclear talks between the two, South Korea continues to mull over a package of measures to seek a breakthrough over the stalled dialogue, she said.
“We are considering a variety of options to make a breakthrough in the Washington-Pyongyang nuclear talks, and one of them includes sending a South Korean special envoy to the North,” Kang said.
She said the South would continue to closely discuss such possible options with the U.S.
“In particular, Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, plans to visit Seoul soon and he is likely to discuss such crucial agenda with South Korean officials,” she said. Biegun reportedly will stay in Seoul for three days from May 8.
Six-party talks
Kang also shared her views on a possible resumption of six-party talks to resolve the ongoing deadlock on denuclearization.
The scenario surfaced last week when Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to resume the now-stalled multilateral dialogue after holding his first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“The U.S. and the North are in a position to focus on the bilateral talks to discuss the latter's nuclear issues,” she said.
She did not voice skepticism over the resumption of the six-party talks, but said it is too early to discuss the negotiations.
The U.S. and the North should reach an agreement before discussing the six-party talks, but the multilateral negotiation should take place sometime in the future.
“Neighboring countries should take part in discussions at a point when the U.S. and the North are in a stage of negotiating the implementation of their possible nuclear agreement,” she said.
She also said the South is yet to detect any outstanding shift of nuclear strategies from the North following the summit between Putin and Kim.
In a post-summit press conference, Putin said what Kim Jong-un wants is security of the regime.
“The major reason behind the North's nuclear development is due to its hostility against the U.S. and Western nations,” Kang said.
“That is why we view Kim's emphasis on the security of his regime as a major shift of its nuclear strategies.”