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US-South Korea Alliance: New Talks on North Korea Policy Launch Next Week

South Korea and the United States are setting up a new regular meeting to talk about North Korea. They want to make sure their plans are aligned, especially since both countries hope to start talking with Pyongyang again. The first meeting could happen as soon as next Tuesday with key diplomats from both sides. This comes as South Korea's new administration is preparing bigger peace efforts for the coming year.

Key Points: US and South Korea to Launch Regular North Korea Policy Talks

  • Regular talks aim to fine-tune the pace of allied policy toward North Korea
  • Consultations seek to enable timely coordination on Pyongyang-related issues
  • The move supports South Korea's planned peace-making efforts starting next year
  • Both allies reaffirm shared goal of complete denuclearization of North Korea
3 min read

South Korea, US likely to launch regular consultations next week on North Korea policy

South Korea and the US will start regular consultations next week to coordinate on North Korea policy, focusing on denuclearization and resuming dialogue with Pyongyang.

"Through the meeting, we plan to discuss overall policy toward North Korea, including ways to bring the North back to the dialogue table. - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il"

Seoul, Dec 12

South Korea and the United States are likely to launch a regular consultative meeting as early as next week to strengthen their coordination on North Korea policy, diplomatic sources said Friday, as the allies explore ways to reengage Pyongyang.

Diplomatic authorities in Seoul and Washington are arranging for Jeong Yeon-doo, Vice Minister for Intelligence and North Korea's nuclear issues at the foreign ministry, and acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim to inaugurate the regular consultative meeting next week, the sources said, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The date is likely to be next Tuesday, although no final decision has been made.

Seoul and Washington have reportedly reached a consensus on the need for such a regular channel to enable timely consultations on North Korea-related issues, as a closely coordinated policy stance has become more important than ever, with both countries seeking to resume dialogue with Pyongyang.

Once the meeting is launched, it is expected to focus on fine-tuning the pace and direction of the allies' North Korea policy, especially as the Lee Jae Myung administration gears up for full-fledged peace-making efforts toward North Korea starting next year.

On December 9, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said that South Korea and the United States are in discussions to hold a regular meeting on coordinating the allies' policy on North Korea.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il made the remarks in a regular press briefing, saying working-level talks have been underway for months to hash out the details of the proposed meeting.

“Through the meeting, we plan to discuss overall policy toward North Korea, including ways to bring the North back to the dialogue table,” Park said.

Seoul and Washington have reportedly reached a consensus on the need to have such a regular channel to enable timely consultations on North Korea-related issues. However, the two sides are not considering setting up a permanent consultative body, according to officials.

The move comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to mend frayed ties with North Korea and resume dialogue despite Pyongyang's silence toward Seoul's peace overtures.

US President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy.

Acting US Ambassador Kim reaffirmed Monday that the "complete denuclearisation" of North Korea remains the policy shared with South Korea, after the phrase was absent from a new US security strategy document.

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- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Dialogue is always better than conflict. Hope they succeed in bringing North Korea to the table. The world has enough tensions already. Maybe there are lessons here for other long-standing disputes... wishing them the best.
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Aman W
"Complete denuclearisation" remains the goal, they say. A bit ironic coming from the US, one of the largest nuclear powers. The double standards in global politics are glaring. Hope South Korea drives a process that actually leads to peace for its people.
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Sarah B
Regular consultations sound like a sensible step. Coordination is key in such delicate matters. From an Indian perspective, we understand the complexity of dealing with unpredictable neighbours. Hope the diplomacy works.
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Vikram M
The focus should be on the people of North Korea who suffer due to these tensions. Any dialogue that improves their lives and regional stability is welcome. India has always supported peaceful resolution of issues through dialogue. Good move.
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Kevin U
While I support peace efforts, I'm skeptical. North Korea has broken promises before. The US and South Korea need a very clear, firm, and unified strategy. Waffling or mixed signals will be exploited by Kim Jong-un. Hope they get it right this time.

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