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South Korean Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon shakes hands with US State Department Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Biegun at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Oct. 29. (photo pool)

The first meeting of a South Korea-US working group to discuss general issues related to North Korean nuclear negotiations was held in Washington, DC, on Nov. 20.

A South Korean government delegation including Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will be in the US from Nov. 19 to 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced. The delegation consists chiefly of MOFA representatives along with other officials from ministries involved in the working group, including division director-level officials in charge of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation at the Ministry of Unification and officials from the Blue House.

The delegation had its first working group meeting in Washington on the afternoon of Nov. 20 with a US delegation including State Department Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Biegun. Other US officials reported to be taking part in the working group including Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea Alex Wong, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Mark Lambert, and Allison Hooker, White House National Security Council Korean Peninsula aide.

At the first meeting, the two sides appeared to share recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and preparations for high-level North Korea-US talks and discuss issues related to denuclearization and establishment of a peace regime. A joint inter-Korean railway survey and groundbreaking ceremony for the linking of their railroads are also expected to be discussed.

The South Korea-US working group was developed as a way for the two sides to hold comprehensive discussions on denuclearization, North Korea sanctions, and inter-Korean cooperation, among other issues. It is meant effectively as a solution to issues raised over differences in tempo between the two sides concerning advancements in inter-Korean relations and North Korea sanctions and the lack of smooth coordination among US agencies. The group’s establishment was reportedly suggested by South Korea.

Meanwhile, no response was yet reported from North Korea to a renewed attempt to hold high-level talks with US that were previously postponed early this month. Diplomatic efforts to prepare for the talks have continued, with CIA Korea Mission Center (KMC) Chief Andrew Kim – one of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s closest associates – secretly visiting South Korea on Nov. 14–17 to meet with officials in Seoul.

Amid predictions variously putting the date for the high-level talks during this month or December, US President Donald Trump’s schedule appears likely to be a variable.

“If [Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee Vice Chairman] Kim Yong-chol is to visit the US for high-level talks with Secretary Pompeo, the question of whether he can meet with President Trump looks to be a key variable,” said Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies.

“Once there is a definite answer from the US on the meeting schedule, we can expect to see a high-level North Korea-US meeting before Nov. 28, when President Trump is scheduled to leave Washington to attend the G20 meeting in Argentina,” Yang predicted.

By Park Min-hee, staff reporter

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