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US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris speaks during a lecture titled “US-ROK Relationship: Toward the Next 65 Years” at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul on Aug. 13 (Kim Ji-eun

The American government has been closely following the high-level inter-Korean talks on Aug. 13, during which negotiators deliberated the third inter-Korean summit. US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris was noncommittal when asked on the morning of Aug. 13 about preconditions for adopting an end-of-war declaration and about the US position on friendly gestures by North Korea, including the partial shutdown of its Sohae (West Sea) Satellite Launching Station, repeatedly remarking that the US would be “waiting to see” the outcome of the high-level inter-Korean talks.

"It's too early right now to make a strong comment on the way forward with regard to an end of war declaration," Harris said during a lecture titled “US-ROK Relationship: Toward the Next 65 Years” that was held at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, located in Seoul’s Seocho neighborhood on Aug. 13.

This was the response that Harris gave to a question about what significant moves the US expected from North Korea. During an earlier press conference on Aug. 6, Harris had said that the North would have to show “demonstrable moves toward denuclearization” before an end-of-war declaration could be made.

“We intend to build on the agreements that were made in Singapore, and I think that becomes the starting point,” Harris said, while avoiding a concrete answer.

In regard to the end-of-war declaration, Harris said that the US wants improved relations both with North Korea and between North and South Korea, while noting that South Korean President Moon Jae-in “himself has stated that the improvement in relations between North and South Korea can’t advance separately from the nuclear issue itself.” The US would be waiting to see how inter-Korean dialogue plays out and what happens in the future, Harris said, before reiterating that it’s too soon to provide a definite position on an end-of-war declaration.

When asked about the preconditions for an end-of-war declaration, Harris said that negotiations and diplomacy are the answer. He explained that the process has just started and is still in its initial stage, while asserting that it’s worth working for peace. Harris added that South Korea and the US share the same goal: “final and fully verified denuclearization.”

Harris said he didn’t have access to the State Department’s position in regard to the high-level inter-Korean talks that were held on Aug. 13 and talks that are currently underway about the third inter-Korean summit and said that the US would be waiting to see how those deliberations turn out. He mentioned that the US would remain in close contact with its ally South Korea and ensure consistency in their actions on issues related to North Korea. The US would also be keeping an eye on the results of the talks on Aug. 13, Harris said.

Harris was also asked about the US government’s position about North Korea’s expression of discontent about the US not taking reciprocal actions despite North Korea’s “friendly gestures” such as shutting down its nuclear test site at Punggye Village and its partial shutdown of its missile engine test site at Tongchang Village. Interestingly, Harris responded by noting that rewards for actions that North Korea may have taken was the theme of the inter-Korean deliberations taking place that same day.

“We’ll have to see how the talks proceed and go from there,” Harris said.

“I believe that President Trump believes in the commitment that Kim Jong-un made in Singapore, so we’ll see where that goes,” he added.

Harris declined to comment on speculation that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will soon be paying a visit to North Korea.

Harris’s remarks made clear that the Trump administration is focusing on the high-level inter-Korean talks, which took place while the US has been unable to make progress in relations with North Korea. Since Pompeo’s visit to the North on July 6 and 7, North Korea and the US have been wrestling over what should come first – denuclearization or a relationship reset. The US has been calling for the North to submit a list of its nuclear weapon and missile facilities as the first step in the follow-up negotiations, while North Korea argues that an end-of-war declaration should be adopted as an initial confidence-building measure.

With North Korea and the US unable to narrow the divide, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is reportedly seeking to serve as an intermediary, once again using inter-Korean relations to engineer progress in North Korea-US relations. That’s why eyes around the world are fixed on deliberations about the third inter-Korean summit.

Harris also spoke about the possibility of the US adopting its own sanctions in response to the import of North Korean coal, which has recently caused controversy inside South Korea. “South Korea is also taking action in accordance with its laws. We’ll have to wait for the results to see what action the South Korean government takes. Our decision will be made in light of that,” he said.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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