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South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-hwa speaks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul during a press conference marking her first year in office on June 18. (Yonhap News)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha declared on June 18 it was the “administration’s goal” to pursue the declaration of an end to the Korean War “within the year.”

Kang also said Seoul would be “trying to remain flexible in its handling of the timing and format.”

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul’s Doryeom neighborhood that morning to mark her first year in office, Kang said the administration was “in close discussions with the US” on the declaration issue, adding that it was her “understanding that it has also been discussed by the North Korea and US leaders.”

“[The North Korea-US Joint Statement] reaffirmed the terms of the Panmunjeom Declaration. It was confirmed through it that the US is also committed,” Kang said.

“China could also play an important role,” she added.

In item 3-3 of their Panmunjeom Declaration on Apr. 27, the South and North Korean leaders agreed to pursue meetings within the year “with a view to declaring an end to the war.”

Remarking on the significance of the recent North Korea-US summit, Kang said, “An institutional framework has been put in place for inter-Korean relations and North Korea-US relations to develop in a virtuous cycle.” On the issue of future high-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington, she reported receiving a phone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo early that morning announcing the US’s plans to “sit down against with North Korea in the near future.”

“Secretary Pompeo’s message signals that he is committed to moving very quickly,” Kang said.

Responding to the attention focusing on the issue of telephone conversations between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, she explained, “I heard from Secretary Pompeo that nothing concrete has been pursued yet.”

Kang also announced plans to pursue talks with North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Singapore in early August.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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