Despite the seemingly slow progress between Pyeongyang and Washington in regards to denuclearization.... South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha says.... that nuclear negotiations between the two countries are ongoing.<br />She said.... the two sides are discussing dates for high-level talks.<br />Our Kan Hyeong-woo has more. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha says that North Korea and the U.S. remain fully committed to dialogue,... and that the two sides are continuing their denuclearization talks.<br /><br />In an interview with local news outlet Hankyoreh , Kang said Pyeongyang and Washington are discussing possible dates for their next high-level talks.<br />She emphasized the need for the meeting to include guarantees for the two sides and define what those guarantees should be.<br />One crucial issue is what guarantees the U.S. will offer when North Korea shuts down its Yeongbyeon nuclear complex, which would be a big concession from the regime.<br />The two countries also feel the need for a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump,... but according to Kang, there's great uncertainty on whether it will take place in January or February next year as hoped.<br /><br />And last week, the U.S. Special Representative to North Korea Stephen Biegun made some conciliatory gestures to the North during his visit to Seoul.<br />He said the U.S. will review allowing its citizens to visit the North for humanitarian purposes,... and consider sending humanitarian aid worth 8-million U.S. dollars to the country.<br />Kang said it will be a big step forward if the regime responds to those gestures,... which is why attention now turns to Kim Jong-un's New Year's address.<br /><br />As for the sanctions on the North,... Kang said Seoul and Washington will need to coordinate closely on the appropriate time to lift the sanctions.<br />Of course, it will depend on how much progress is made on the irreversible denuclearization of North Korea.<br />There will also need to be similar discussions at the UN Security Council.<br /><br />Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News. <br />
