조명균 "남북-북미 보조문제 협의" • 비건 "비핵화 통한 평화 원해"<br /><br />U.S. nuclear envoy, Stephen Biegun, held more meetings with top officials in Seoul today.<br />During talks with the unification minister, he's expected to have discussed inter-Korean economic cooperation and sanctions on Pyeongyang.<br />For details let's turn to our Oh Jung-hee. <br />Washington's nuclear envoy continued a series of meetings with key figures in Seoul.<br />U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, met on Tuesday with the Minister of Unification, Cho Myoung-gyon.<br />"It's a very critical moment right now. We'll be talking about how to keep inter-Korean relations and North Korea-U.S. relations in step with each other, so our discussion today is important."<br />"We want the same thing for the Korean Peninsula -- peace and stability, primarily through the denuclearization of North Korea. Within that, there're many initiatives we can cooperate on. We look forward to working closely with your ministry."<br />The main issues expected to have been on the table are inter-Korean economic cooperation and international sanctions on North Korea.<br />At the inter-Korean summit in September and the following high-level talks, the two Koreas have set up several cooperation plans -- which include joint inspections of railroads and upgrading tree nurseries in North Korea.<br />Seoul believes that inter-Korean cooperation can push the North towards denuclearization... and is therefore expected to have asked Washington to grant exemptions to sanctions.<br />But the U.S. is firm about keeping the sanctions in place until North Korea denuclearizes.<br />In fact, President Trump now says it doesn't matter how long that process takes... as long as there aren't any nuclear tests.<br /><br />Also expected to have been covered is the dialogue between Pyeongyang and Washington on holding high-level and working-level talks.<br />It's known that North Korea has not been responding to U.S. proposals for talks... and it remains a question whether there will be any major breakthrough in their negotiations until the U.S. midterms early next month.<br />Washington's nuclear envoy also met Tuesday with Seoul's national security advisor, Chung Eui-yong.<br />They discussed how Washington is preparing for the second North Korea-U.S. summit and agreed to pursue peace on the Korean Peninsula based on a solid South Korea-U.S. alliance.<br />The day before, Biegun met foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha, Seoul's own nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon... and the Presidential Chief of Staff, Im Jong-seok.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. <br />
