hankyoreh

Kim Yo-jong

The South Korean government is pushing plans for a visit to the US by special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs Lee Do-hoon following White House adviser and US President Donald Trump’s older daughter Ivanka Trump’s visit to South Korea on Feb. 23–26, a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said on Feb. 21.

The planned visit by Lee, South Korea’s senior representative to the Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, is part of an effort by Seoul to share information about recent developments in inter-Korean dialogue and promote a climate conducive to North Korea-US dialogue.

“The need [for South Korea and the US] to share opinions on the state of inter-Korean relations arose around the time that a high-level North Korean delegation visited for the [Pyeongchang Olympics] opening ceremony,” the official said.

“While there had been discussions through diplomatic channels, we hope to meet at a senior level for in-depth discussions on the direction of our response to North Korea,” the official added.

A US visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha is also under consideration. The message from Seoul appears to be that it hopes to reinforce its cooperation through high-level discussions with the US amid the possibility that the end of the Pyeongchang Paralympics in late March 3 could spell trouble for the temporary state of peace provided by the Olympic truce. The circumstances suggest it is important to make some headway in talks between North Korea and the US before the anticipated resumption of joint South Korea-US military exercises in April.

The South Korean government emphasized that “there is nothing wrong with the South Korea-US alliance.” During a hearing of a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Feb. 21, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said, “I cannot agree with the assessment [being offered in some quarters] that there are cracks in the South Korea-US alliance. We’re working closely with the US, and we’ll continue to do so [in the future as well].”

Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok also addressed Ivanka’s visit to South Korea during a hearing before the National Assembly’s House Steering Committee on the same day.

“Some are concerned that there is a disagreement between South Korea and the US or a fissure in our relationship, but I think that Ivanka’s visit symbolizes that such worries are needless,” Im said.

In regard to the lack of telephone conversations between the leaders of South Korea and the US, Im said, “Since Ivanka is coming to the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, our judgment is that it would probably be appropriate to create an opportunity for a phone call after that.”

By Kim Bo-hyeop, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]