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US Democratic Party Senators Chris Coons and Maggie Hassan at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Apr. 24. (provided by the US Embassy in Seoul)

The position among US politicians and the US public that sanctions against North Korea cannot be relieved until it takes significant and concrete steps toward denuclearization was reiterated by Democratic Party Senators Chris Coons and Maggie Hassan on Apr. 24 following a two-day visit to South Korea – one of numerous recent visits by US Senators.

Coons and Hassan also said the South Korean government stressed the absence of any differences with the US in terms of its approach to North Korea issues.

A member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who has shown a particular interest in the North Korean nuclear issue and other North Korea-related matters, Coons spoke with reporters that afternoon at the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel.

“I don't think it's appropriate for [North Korea and the US] to have some big breakthrough that is based on our offering sanctions relief to North Korea without North Korea taking significant, concrete steps,” he said.

His remarks came in response to a question concerning ways of achieving progress in denuclearization talks amid the failure to narrow the difference in views between Pyongyang, which wants sanction relief, and Washington, which insists that no sanctions relief can be provided until complete denuclearization takes place.

Hassan also stressed, “You can't reward DPRK for, again, just showing up and stating intentions [to denuclearize].”

“[T]his [concrete denuclearization process] really has to start with concrete proposals, and real action steps from the DPRK,” she added.

“[T]o suggest [. . .] relieving sanctions before there is denuclearization – I think it's not something that people in the United States would support,” she said.

Both senators expressed support for President Donald Trump’s “no deal” decision regarding the Hanoi talks.

“No deal was better than a bad deal,” Hassan said.

When asked to respond to speculation that the US and South Korea differed in views on inter-Korean economic cooperation and their approaches to North Korea, Coons said, “We discussed that specifically with the National Security Advisor [Chung Eui-yong], as well as with the Foreign Minister [Kang Kyung-wha].”

“[Chung and Kang] insisted that there is no daylight between the United States position and the ROK position on what should be the next steps, and how should denuclearization, and how should normalization [of relations] occur,” he said.

When asked for his opinion on President Moon Jae-in’s idea of using the resumption of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex and/or tourism at Mt. Kumgang as an incentive for North Korea in the denuclearization process, Coons said, “There will be some confidence-building measures, but not relief of sanctions.”

Regarding the North Korea-Russia summit on Apr. 25, Coons said, “[I]t would be a great disappointment for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to again insert himself in a way that's unhelpful in terms of the global pursuit of counter-proliferation and peace.”

“it is my real hope that they'll have a positive meeting, but it will not result in sanctions avoidance or weakening of the global regime in opposition to North Korea's nuclear weapons program,” he said.

Both senators also underscored that the aim of their South Korea visit was to “reinforce the importance of the US-South Korea alliance.”

As part of their tour of Japan, South Korea, and China, the senators met on Apr. 24 with Chung, Kang, Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, and ruling and opposition party members of the National Assembly and attended a lunch with North Korean defectors. In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during her meeting with the two senators, Kang “noted that South Korea and the US are closely coordinating to maintain the momentum of dialogue with North Korea and work toward achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and asked for the continued interest and cooperation of the US Congress.”

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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