서훈-비건, 청와대서 면담… 한미, 북미대화 재개 중요성 공감<br /><br />The U.S. top negotiator on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, stopped by South Korea's presidential office this morning... for talks with President Moon's newly appointed National Security Adviser.<br />The two agreed on the need to resume dialogue between Pyeongyang and Washington... and promised to continue coordinating.<br />Our presidential office correspondent Kim Min-ji starts us off.<br />South Korea's National Security Advisor Suh Hoon has called on the U.S. to continue its efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea.<br />He met with the visiting U.S. point man for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, at the presidential office for 70 minutes on Thursday.<br />Biegun stressed the importance of resuming dialogue,... and vowed close coordination with South Korea on the matter.<br />The two officials also exchanged their latest assessments on North Korea,... and discussed ways to speed up the peace process.<br />They also agreed on the need to swiftly conclude their defense cost-sharing agreement.<br />Biegun's trip to Seoul, his first in seven months, drew a lot of attention given that it came amid a stalemate in Korean Peninsula affairs.<br />North Korea has cut off communication channels with South Korea,... and recently blew up the two sides' joint liaison office.<br />Pyeongyang has also said that it's not interested in talks with Washington.<br />After talks Wednesday with Seoul's top foreign ministry officials, Biegun said the U.S. "strongly" supports inter-Korean cooperation and that he's ready to resume negotiations with the North at any time.<br />Biegun now heads to Japan to meet with officials there.<br />Although there was no new message for North Korea on Thursday,... eyes will be on whether Pyeongyang and Washington move closer to dialogue ahead of the U.S. presidential election.<br />Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.<br />
