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US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim (left) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov arrive at Incheon International Airport on Saturday. (Yonhap News)

US and Russian envoys to the North Korean nuclear talks both visited South Korea on Saturday, drawing attention to what message they may have for the North.

US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim met with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Sunday to discuss ways to quickly resume the Korean Peninsula peace process, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.

Sung Kim is also met with Noh Kyu-duk, who serves as MOFA’s special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue on Monday.

Kim and Noh reiterated that the two countries’ command post exercises, which began on Aug. 16, don’t represent hostile intentions toward the North. They also discussed the possibility of providing humanitarian support to the North, including COVID-19 aid.

Kim intends to meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, who is also visiting South Korea, in what will be the first talks between the US and Russia’s nuclear envoys. Morgulov is responsible for the Asia and Pacific regions at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kim and Morgulov, who arrived in South Korea on the same day, will meet on Monday. Morgulov has arranged to meet with No Kyu-duk on Tuesday for talks about the North Korean nuclear issue.

Since Kim and Morgulov’s visits to South Korea coincide, the three countries had considered holding trilateral talks, but they ultimately decided against that. They were concerned that sending a united message to North Korea from Seoul might be construed as an attempt to pressure Pyongyang.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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