Results of dinner with Kim Jong-un “not disappointing”

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smiles as he meets South Korean special envoy Chung Eui-yong in Pyongyang on Mar. 5. (provided by Blue House)

The Blue House remained vague on the issues that were discussed between the North Korean leader and South Korean delegation

The Blue House remained On Mar. 5, South Korea’s special delegation to the North led by Chung Eui-yong dined with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for four hours and 12 minutes. Kim’s wife Ri Sol-ju was also present during the dinner. A Blue House spokesman said that results were apparently “not disappointing.”

“The five members of the special delegation to North Korea led by Blue House National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong had a meeting with North Korea State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un on Mar. 5 followed by a dinner. The meeting and the dinner lasted from 6 pm until 10:12 pm, for a total of four hours and 12 minutes,” said Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyum during the press briefing on Mar. 6.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a meeting with South Korean special envoy Chung Eui-yong in Pyongyang on Mar. 5. Kim is flanked by Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Korean Workers’ Party, and Kim Yo-jong, First Vice Director of the North Korean Central Committee. (KCNA/Yonhap)

“The meeting and dinner took place in the Azalea Hall, in the headquarters of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP). This was the first time for South Korean officials to visit party headquarters,” said the spokesperson. The special delegation reportedly briefed Moon on the results of the meeting and dinner at 11:20 pm on Mar. 5

“Accompanying State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un at the interview were Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the KWP Central Committee, and Kim Yo-jong, first vice director of the KWP Central Committee. In the dinner that followed, they were joined by Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju; Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland; Maeng Kyong-il, vice director of the KWP United Front Department; and Kim Chang-son, Kim Jong-un’s chief of staff,” said the spokesperson.

South Korean special envoy Chung Eui-young meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on Mar. 5. Chung was carrying a personal letter written by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. In the background is Kim Yo-jong, Kim’ Jong-un’s sister and the first vice director of the North Korean Central Committee. (Korean Central News Agency/Yonhap)

After a follow-up meeting on Mar. 6, the special delegation is planning to return to Seoul in the afternoon, according to Kim. “Considering that Kim Yong-chol has been present throughout all these meetings, we think that he will be at the follow-up meeting,” the Blue House said. The dinner on Mar. 5 was the first time that Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju had met South Korean officials.

“I’m told that something came out of it and that it’s not disappointing,” a Blue House official said when asked about the outcome of the special delegation’s meeting and dinner with Kim Jong-un. This suggests that North Korea at least offered to halt nuclear weapon and missile testing in connection with denuclearization.

Members of the South Korean special delegation pose for a commemorative photo following their meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Mar. 5. From left are Yun Kun-young, head of the department for monitoring state affairs, Blue House National Security Office director and head of the special delegation, Chung Eui-yong, Kim Jong-un, Suh Hoon, director of the National Intelligence Service, Chun Hae-sung, vice minister of unification, and Kim Sang-gyun, deputy director of the NIS. (provided by Blue House)

In related coverage, North Korea’s state-run news agency the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Kim Jong-un “was told President Moon Jae-in’s view on a summit by the South Korean special envoy and shared his opinion, resulting in a satisfactory agreement. The Supreme Leader gave forceful instructions for practical steps to be swiftly taken in relation to this.” No details were provided about the “satisfactory agreement” mentioned here. It has not been confirmed whether denuclearization or North Korea-US dialogue were discussed during the meeting on Mar. 5.

The special delegation will return to South Korea this afternoon. Delegation members Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon are planning to visit the US before the end of the week to inform the Americans of the outcome of their visit to North Korea and to push for North Korea-US talks.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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