[Anchor]
South Korea and the United States have agreed to coordinate closely on inter-Korean projects.
Seoul's chief nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon discussed the issue and other matters regarding North Korea with his American counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, in Washington.
North Korea, however, has signaled that it's not interested in resuming projects with the South anytime soon.
Our Christine Min reports.
[Reporter]
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Lee Do-hoon said Seoul and Washington agreed to continue close consultations on possible inter-Korean cooperation projects, adding the U.S. respects South Korea's decisions.
[Clip: Lee: 00:19]
"Washington has always respected the decisions South Korea makes as a sovereign nation. And I believe it's important that South Korea and the U.S. work together and coordinate as allies on the basis of respect."
Asked if they discussed the issue of tours to North Korea, Lee declined to give details.
He noted that individual tours are not subject to sanctions, but acknowledged that they could raise "minor issues."
To this, he said they would need to consult experts and monitor the issue to ensure there are no misunderstandings.
Earlier this week, President Moon Jae-in expressed a desire to resume inter-Korean cooperation projects in a bid to revive stalled nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
However, North Korea has again called on South Korea to remove its facilities from the North's Mount Kumgang resort.
Government sources on Thursday said North Korea sent a notice at the end of December demanding that the South-built facilities at the resort be taken down by next month.
North Korea asked for the removal in November and warned it would tear down those facilities if Seoul does not take action by the end of the month.
The tour program to Mount Kumgang was suspended in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.
Christine Min, eFM News.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
