hankyoreh

White House spokesperson Sean Spicer during a briefing on July 17. (EPA/Yonhap News)

The White House and US State Department showed a subtle difference in their responses to Seoul‘s July 17 proposal of inter-Korean military talks and Red Cross talks toward divided family reunions for the Chuseok holiday in October.

When asked by the Hankyoreh on July 17 for the US’s position on the South Korean proposal, State Department East Asia-Pacific spokesperson Katina Adams curtly suggested the reporter “ask the South Korean government.” A diplomatic source in Washington interpreted this as a “neutral expression” - indicating neither active support and welcoming nor opposition.

A joint statement agreed upon on June 30 by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump indicated that Trump “expressed support for President Moon’s aspiration to restart inter-Korean dialogue on certain issues, including humanitarian affairs.” The statement also said Trump “supported the ROK’s leading role in fostering an environment for peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.” The State Department‘s determination appeared to be that Seoul’s proposal was not a departure from this agreement in the broader scheme of things.

In contrast, the response from the White House showed more evident displeasure than the State Department’s. When asked about Trump’s response at a regular briefing the same day, White House spokesperson Sean Spicer replied, “Obviously those comments came out of the Republic of Korea and I would refer you back to them.”

“That being said, I think the President has made clear in the past with respect that any type of conditions that would have to be met [by North Korea for dialogue to take place] are clearly far away from where we are now,” he continued.

The White House response was seen as indicating more concern over the military talks than over the Red Cross talks. With the Trump administration viewing shows of force and other forms of military pressure as key to tightening the screws on North Korea, it may also see a mood of detente between South and North as potentially damaging to the effectiveness of those tools.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida also responded to questions from reporters about Seoul‘s proposal the same day during his visit to New York.

“This is the time to apply pressure,” Kyodo News reported Kishida as saying.

By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

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