S. Korea's Blue House keeps watchful eye on N. Korea, U.S. pre-summit talks
- 6 years ago
청와대, "남북미 종전선언 북미회담에 전적으로 달려..." 북미회담 상황 예의주시
As talks between North Korea and the U.S. accelerate in New York, Singapore, and at the DMZ... making progress toward potentially a successful meeting between to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, South Korea's top office remains cautious... keeping watchful eye.
Our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung takes an in-depth look.
May 27, 2018
"I have hopes that if the North Korea, U.S. summit talks go smoothly, South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. can make a declaration that officially brings an end to hostilities at a trilateral summit afterwards."
By hostilities, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, speaking to the media about his unannounced face-to-face with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un the day before, was referring to the Korean War that ceased in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
South Korea's Blue House remained cautious on Friday as they kept a watchful eye on how pre-summit discussions between North Korea and the U.S. unfold to gauge whether a three-way summit would be plausible in Singapore in two weeks' time.
Wrapping up his two day meeting with Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee and one of Kim Jong-un’s most trusted aides, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo said he was confident talks were moving in the right direction.
"I have been very clear that President Trump and the United States' objective is very consistent and well-known: the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
If these talks are successful, it will truly be historic. It will take bold leadership from Chairman Kim Jong-un. They'll have to choose a path that is fundamentally different than the one that their country has proceeded on for decades."
Pompeo, who's met Kim Jong-un a few times in Pyongyang, said he's had many conversations with the North Koreans about how North Korea and the U.S. can achieve the denuclearization that the world demands of the North and the security assurances that would be required for them to allow the U.S. to achieve that.
"Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol is now planning to travel to Washington to deliver a personal letter from Chairman Kim Jong-un."
Even so... the U.S. president on Thursday said this when asked about his "expected" meeting with the North Korean leader.
"Hopefully we'll have a meeting on the 12th. ((That's going along very well, but I want it to be meaningful. It doesn't mean it gets all done at one meeting. )) Maybe you have a second or a third, and maybe we'll have none."
So, although there has been positive progress after twists and turns and a whirlwind of diplomacy this past week... never say never... and it just ain't over until it is over.
Which is why Seoul's top office remains low key... saying the focus now should solely be on North Korea and the U.S. and their nuclear deal... and that a three-way meeting wo
As talks between North Korea and the U.S. accelerate in New York, Singapore, and at the DMZ... making progress toward potentially a successful meeting between to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, South Korea's top office remains cautious... keeping watchful eye.
Our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung takes an in-depth look.
May 27, 2018
"I have hopes that if the North Korea, U.S. summit talks go smoothly, South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. can make a declaration that officially brings an end to hostilities at a trilateral summit afterwards."
By hostilities, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, speaking to the media about his unannounced face-to-face with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un the day before, was referring to the Korean War that ceased in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
South Korea's Blue House remained cautious on Friday as they kept a watchful eye on how pre-summit discussions between North Korea and the U.S. unfold to gauge whether a three-way summit would be plausible in Singapore in two weeks' time.
Wrapping up his two day meeting with Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee and one of Kim Jong-un’s most trusted aides, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo said he was confident talks were moving in the right direction.
"I have been very clear that President Trump and the United States' objective is very consistent and well-known: the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
If these talks are successful, it will truly be historic. It will take bold leadership from Chairman Kim Jong-un. They'll have to choose a path that is fundamentally different than the one that their country has proceeded on for decades."
Pompeo, who's met Kim Jong-un a few times in Pyongyang, said he's had many conversations with the North Koreans about how North Korea and the U.S. can achieve the denuclearization that the world demands of the North and the security assurances that would be required for them to allow the U.S. to achieve that.
"Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol is now planning to travel to Washington to deliver a personal letter from Chairman Kim Jong-un."
Even so... the U.S. president on Thursday said this when asked about his "expected" meeting with the North Korean leader.
"Hopefully we'll have a meeting on the 12th. ((That's going along very well, but I want it to be meaningful. It doesn't mean it gets all done at one meeting. )) Maybe you have a second or a third, and maybe we'll have none."
So, although there has been positive progress after twists and turns and a whirlwind of diplomacy this past week... never say never... and it just ain't over until it is over.
Which is why Seoul's top office remains low key... saying the focus now should solely be on North Korea and the U.S. and their nuclear deal... and that a three-way meeting wo