이인영, 주한 미국대사 만나 "한미워킹그룹 기능 재조정하자"<br /><br />South Korea's Unification Minister is calling for the Seoul-Washington working group on North Korean policy to be upgraded.<br />He asked the U.S. for cooperation and highlighted that improvements would wash away criticism that the working group hinders inter-Korean relations.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />Seoul's unification minister sat down with the top U.S. diplomat in South Korea on Tuesday,... and suggested upgrading the so-called working group between the allies to facilitate improvements in inter-Korean relations.<br />During his first meeting with U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris,... Minister Lee In-young stressed the need for a readjustment.<br />"By doing so, we will be able to dismiss concerns the working group hinders inter-Korean relations. This, ultimately is, upgrading the South Korea-U.S. working group to 2-point-0."<br />The proposal comes as the entity coordinating Pyeongyang-related issues has been under fire from South Korean liberal politicians and activists for allegedly holding up progress in inter-Korean ties due to excessively harsh standards adopted on the regime.<br />Many have called for it to be restructured or dismantled.<br />Minister Lee also asked for continued cooperation with Ambassador Harris in ushering in a new era for the working group 2-point-0.<br />Harris expressed support for inter-Korean cooperation.<br />"As a closest friend and ally of the ROK, the U.S. strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation and finding ways to do so through the working group, as this plays an important role in creating a more secure and stable environment on peninsula."<br />Regarding Lee's proposal,... the U.S. State Department explained Tuesday that the allies exert diplomatic efforts on a regular basis and coordinate issues on international sanctions on North Korea as well as inter-Korean cooperation.<br />While such a remark, made in response to a written inquiry by Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency,... is not a direct comment on the latest proposal,... it can be interpreted as one that reaffirms the fundamental role of the Seoul-Washington working group, established in late 2018.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
