Lee Do-hoon "Need to Promote North Korea-US Talks Through Improving Inter-Korean Relations"... Emphasizes 'Ways to Promote Dialogue Amid Sanctions'

On the 16th in Washington DC, met with Deputy Secretary Steven Biegun for the first US-Korea senior nuclear talks on North Korea this year

Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Steve Biegun, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy at the Department of State, are holding a brief press conference on the 16th at the briefing room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "There is a strong call to promote inter-Korean relations to facilitate North Korea-US relations. How to promote dialogue within the framework of sanctions is a mutual concern."

Lee Do-hoon, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Peace Negotiations on the Korean Peninsula, made these remarks on the 15th while meeting with reporters before his trip to the United States to continue discussions with Stephen Biegun, US Deputy Secretary of State, regarding the Korean Peninsula peace process. Lee will visit Washington DC from the 15th to the 18th for four days.

He said, "I plan to meet with US government officials to consider what methods South Korea, the US, and the ROK-US alliance can use to overcome the current situation," adding, "We will continue a series of diplomatic efforts to break through this stagnant period."

Regarding inter-Korean cooperation emphasized by President Moon Jae-in in his New Year's address and press conference, he mentioned that it is important to start with what can be done. He stated, "Within the current sanctions, systems, and international order, we will begin with what is possible and see how coordination can be achieved," and added, "Although there are limitations in concretizing cooperative projects through consultations with Representative Biegun, we plan to listen to discussions this time."

Concerning the US Treasury Department’s announcement of additional sanctions on North Korea amid ongoing foreign ministers’ talks, he explained, "How to promote dialogue within the framework of sanctions is a mutual concern," and "The US fundamentally intends to pursue dialogue and sanctions simultaneously."

Meanwhile, regarding recent reports that the US has expressed willingness to resume North Korea-US working-level talks, he said, "I understand that the US is making various efforts through multiple channels," emphasizing, "It is not good for anyone that there have been no working-level talks and that North Korea-US relations remain stagnant for a long time, so it is important for North Korea and the US to engage in dialogue quickly."

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