South Korean ambassador to US says North Korea “firmly resolved” to resume dialogue

South Korean ambassador to the US Cho Yoon-je

Ambassador Cho Yoon-je addresses skepticism regarding NK to Korean correspondents in DC

South Korean ambassador to the US Cho Yoon-je

On Aug. 30, South Korean ambassador to the US Cho Yoon-je said he thinks that “North Korea is firmly resolved to sustain the momentum for dialogue,” responding to the challenges facing North Korea-US denuclearization talks after the cancellation of what would’ve been US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s fourth visit to the North.

Speaking to a meeting of Korean correspondents at the South Korean embassy in Washington, Cho dismissed concerns that North Korea-US relations were regressing to the hardline antagonism that existed before the June 12 summit.

“I think that North Korea will maintain its dialogue [with the US] because it knows full well that sanctions won’t be lifted and economic cooperation and development won’t be feasible without continuing the denuclearization talks and improving relations with the US,” Cho said.

“I’m told there hasn’t been any particular response from North Korea since the cancellation of Pompeo’s trip to the North was announced. I think this shows that the North is being very cautious about how it responds.”

North Korea has not responded directly to US President Donald Trump cancellation of Pompeo’s planned visit on Aug. 24. When James Mattis’s remarks about the possibility of resuming joint military exercises with South Korea strengthened pessimistic forecasts, Trump took steps to “adjust the tone” by talking about his “fantastic relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Aug. 29.

And then on Aug. 30, Trump told Bloomberg that he’s “had a good relationship with Kim Jong-un,” while admitting that “that can always change.”

“Our diplomatic challenge is to provide the impetus so that improving inter-Korean relations, improving North Korea-US relations and continuing North Korea-US dialogue create a positive feedback loop,” Cho said.

Says fears of rift between South Korea and US are “exaggerated”

When asked about fears of a rift between South Korea and the US over the opening of an inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong, Cho said, “I regard these reports as exaggerated, as the spokesperson of the US State Department said. South Korea and the US are engaging in close deliberation and consultation at all levels, as if we were running a joint situation room. You have Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong and US National Security Advisor John Bolton, and the South Korean Embassy to the US, the White House and the US State Department.”

In related news, Steven Biegun, the State Department’s newly appointed special envoy for North Korean policy, will reportedly be visiting South Korea and Japan in the near future. He will apparently be fully authorized by Pompeo to take charge of the North Korea-US negotiations.

By Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent

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