[Editorial] S. Korea-US working group needs to provide leverage for denuclearization negotiations

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

A South Korea-US working group was launched in Washington, DC, on Nov. 20. The two sides established plans to hold regular meetings of the group to systematically discuss denuclearization, North Korea sanctions, and inter-Korean cooperation. The group’s membership includes a wide range of working-level officials responsible for peninsula issues on both sides. It’s a positive step that Seoul and Washington have established this framework for diplomatic discussions to allow for efficient communication on a full range of North Korea-related issues.

The idea for the working group was reportedly suggested by Seoul as a way of preventing disagreements from arising with Washington. A closer look, however, suggests the real reason the group was set up has to do with the US, which views denuclearization as its top priority and has objected to and curbed the South Korean government’s efforts to improve inter-Korean relations.

The US’ focus is on implementing sanctions to bring about North Korea’s complete denuclearization, and the result has been some differences with Seoul’s emphasis on promoting denuclearization through inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. Hopefully, the group will be able to discover ways of bridging this gap in perceptions and creating a positive feedback loop between progress in denuclearization and improvements in inter-Korean relations.

The fact that the US voiced its “strong support” for an inter-Korean joint railway and road survey at that first meeting inspires hope for the group’s future activities. South and North Korea had originally planned to begin a joint survey late last month for the linkage and modernization of their railways and roads, with a groundbreaking ceremony to be held in late November or early December. That schedule was postponed due to the deadlock in North Korea-US denuclearization talks. This public show of support from the US on the railway and road linkage issue – a major focus of interest in inter-Korean cooperation – is a welcome development as an outcome of the working group meeting.

But not all of the signs from South Korea and the US regarding the working group have been positive, and it’s difficult to shake some concerns. On the day of its launch, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed that improvements in inter-Korean relations should not get ahead of denuclearization, adding that the working group was intended so that the two sides would not be telling conflicting stories. His remarks could be seen as implying that the US may try to use the working group as a check against inter-Korean interchange.

To dispel these concerns, the two sides will need to improve their level of understanding on mutual areas of interest. Now that the working group has been established for the purpose of smooth communication between South Korea and the US, we look forward to it serving as a setting for productive discussions that hasten improvements in inter-Korean relations and provide leverage for progress with denuclearization.

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