North Korea nuclear negotiators meet in Indonesia
Sung Kim does not comment on signs of resumption of inter-Korean dialogue
“We will closely communicate with the proposal of an end-of-war declaration”
Noh Gyu-deok (left), head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Relations Headquarters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explains the outcome of the consultation to reporters after meeting with US State Department special representative for North Korea Sung Kim in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the 30th. Jakarta = Correspondent Chan-Yoo Koh
On the 30th, the State Department’s special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, who is the chief representative of the North Korean nuclear negotiation process, said on the 30th that North Korea’s launch of a hypersonic missile (Hwasong-8) “is in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.” While emphasizing ‘diplomatic involvement’ with North Korea, he repeated only the principled position that “there is no hostile intention” in regard to the abandonment of the hostile policy that North Korea demands. North Korea-U.S. relations are running parallel lines, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hints at the restoration of inter-Korean communication lines in early October.
Kim met with reporters after meeting for about an hour and 20 minutes with Roh Gyu-deok, head of the Korean Peninsula peace negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the same day, and said, “We shared deep concerns about North Korea’s missile launch.” . “This is a violation of a number of UN Security Council resolutions and a threat to North Korea’s neighbors and the international community,” it said. In this regard, the United States convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on September 30 (local time) to discuss the issue of North Korea’s hypersonic missile launch with Britain and France.
President Kim also emphasized the need for North Korea-U.S. dialogue. “We are seeking a path with South Korea toward complete denuclearization and a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula,” he said. He also urged North Korea to respond to the humanitarian aid provided jointly by South Korea and the US, saying, “We are ready to cooperate with North Korea in areas of humanitarian interest.”
“The ROK and the United States shared a comprehensive and in-depth evaluation of the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the North’s discourses and speeches and missile launches,” said Roh. We agreed on that,” he said.
U.S. State Department special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, announces the results of the consultation to reporters after meeting with Noh Kyu-deok, head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiation Headquarters, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the 30th. Jakarta = Correspondent Chan-Yoo Koh
The meeting took place at a time when tensions on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea’s hypersonic missile launch and signs of resumption of inter-Korean dialogue were mixed. In particular, while Chairman Kim reached out to inter-Korean relations at the Supreme People’s Assembly the previous day, while keeping a distance from North Korea-U.S. relations, attention was paid to the expression of the US position or change in attitude. President Kim repeated his position that “(the United States) has no hostile intentions” about North Korea’s position, and did not give any particular position on the signs of resumption of inter-Korean dialogue.
South Korea and the United States also exchanged views on President Moon Jae-in’s proposal for an end-of-war declaration. Director Roh said, “The president explained in detail the declaration of the end of the war proposed at the UN General Assembly,” and Kim said, “I have heard explanations from Director Roh. We have decided to continue close communication.”
Youngbin Cho reporter peoplepeople@hankookilbo.com
Jakarta = Go Chan-yu correspondent jutdae@hankookilbo.com
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