US State Department Supports Inter-Korean Cooperation Amid Japanese Reports of US Opposition

Comment on Yomiuri Shimbun Report
Cheongwadae Also States "Groundless"

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is delivering the 2020 policy speech at the 201st regular session of the National Diet (House of Representatives and House of Councillors), which opened on the 20th.

The U.S. Department of State has stated that "the United States supports inter-Korean cooperation," in response to Japanese media reports that the U.S. opposed South Korea's attempt to resume inter-Korean cooperation projects such as tourism in Geumgangsan, according to a report by Voice of America (VOA) on the 27th (local time).

A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of State said in response to VOA's request for comment on Japanese media reports that "the U.S. opposed the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation projects such as Geumgangsan tourism promoted by the South Korean government," "We do not comment on the details of private diplomatic conversations," while affirming this position.

The spokesperson reaffirmed the existing stance, saying, "The United States supports inter-Korean cooperation and coordinates with our South Korean ally to ensure that inter-Korean cooperation proceeds in step with progress on denuclearization."

Earlier, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, citing sources related to trilateral consultations among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, reported that Chung Eui-yong, director of the South Korean presidential National Security Office, met with Robert O'Brien, U.S. National Security Advisor, in Washington D.C. on the 7th (local time) and requested that the U.S. recognize the resumption of Geumgangsan tourism and the Kaesong Industrial Complex from a magnanimous perspective. The newspaper claimed that O'Brien expressed opposition, stating, "We should be cautious about pursuing inter-Korean projects that ignore U.N. sanctions against North Korea."

Regarding this, the Blue House stated that the Japanese media report is not true. A senior Blue House official told reporters on the 27th, "We asked Director Chung about the authenticity of the report," and said, "We understood his response as 'He never said such things.'"

The official added, "We did not specifically verify each fact related to the report, but we convey Director Chung's answer that it is 'nonsense' and 'groundless.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.