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Blue House National Security Office director Chung Eui-yong shakes hands with White House National Security Advisor John Bolton at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 4. (Blue House)
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Analysts speculate inter-Korean summit outcome and North Korea-US summit details are discussed along North Korea’s denuclearization
Blue House National Security Office director Chung Eui-yong arrived in the US for a top-secret visit at the White House National Security Council’s request, it was learned on May 4. It was a second US visit in ten days for Chung, who previously met with White House National Security Advisor John Bolton on Apr. 24 in Washington, DC, three days ahead of the inter-Korean summit. Analysts are speculating Chung shared details about the summit’s outcome and coordinated opinions on the location for a North Korea-US summit expected for this month and its key agenda items, namely denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and guarantees on the North Korean regime’s security. “Mr. Chung arrived for an undisclosed visit at the US National Security Council’s request. We were unable to mention it ahead of time because the NSC meeting operated on a principle of no disclosure before or afterwards and the US specifically requested secrecy,” a Blue House senior official said in a May 4 meeting with reporters. “I suspect there may be discussions of a ‘big deal’ with the main round coming up in terms of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, as opposed to a ‘small deal’ having to do with the venue for the North Korea-US talks,” the official said, adding that this was only a personal opinion. Analysts predicted a major topic for discussion between Chung and Bolton may be a plan for “realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula,” as agreed upon by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at their Apr. 27 summit. Another focus of attention is whether Chung and Bolton will exchange views on the location for the North Korea-US summit – which is seen as a predictor of the outcome of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim. “There seems to be a difference in attitudes between President Trump and [White House] advisors,” a Blue House senior official noted. While Trump has included Pyongyang and Panmunjeom as optimal candidate sites for reasons of symbolism and dramatic effect, his advisors have reportedly recommended a third setting, voicing fears that the North Korea-US summit could give North Korea – and the rest of the international community – the mistaken impression that the North Korean nuclear issue and all other matters have been resolved. Advisors have also apparently expressed concerns that the symbolism of Panmunjeom or Pyongyang might prevent Trump from walking out of the summit mid-way if it appears the US is unlikely to win satisfactory results. By Kim Bo-hyeop, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
