U.S. envoy for North Korea Sung Kim (L) meets Unification Minister Lee In-young in Seoul on June 22, 2021. (Photo: Yonhap)
Unification Minister Lee In-young has called for "active" and "agile" cooperation between South Korean and the U.S. to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.
He made the remarks Monday as he met with the new U.S. special envoy for Pyongyang, Ambassador Sung Kim.
Kim responded that the two countries "are very closely aligned on all important aspects" of their North Korea policy and expressed support for "meaningful inter-Korean dialogue, cooperation and engagement" with Pyongyang.
Lee also asked for close discussions on Seoul's push for inter-Korean cooperation in areas such as humanitarian aid, reunions of war-separated families and anti-pandemic efforts.
Kim added that he believes their governments agree on the shared commitment to pursue complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through diplomacy and dialogue.
The meeting was immediately followed by a "high-level bilateral consultation" between the U.S. envoy and Vice Unification Minister Choi Young-jun.
The two sides are also scheduled to hold working-level talks Wednesday.
Earlier, the foreign ministry in Seoul revealed the allies agreed to consider ending a "working group" on North Korea policy in a conciliatory gesture towards Pyongyang, which has criticized the forum for allegedly hampering cross-border exchanges and cooperation by focusing too much on enforcing sanctions.
Please send comments to tbsefmnews@gmail.com / copyright © tbs. Unauthorized redistribution prohibited.
