Lee Do-hoon, Head of Peace Negotiations, Makes Urgent Visit to the U.S.... Likely to Request 'North Korea Cooperation'

When Asked About Purpose of US Visit, "Can't Say Now"
Meeting with Biegun and Others to Discuss Situation... Opportunity to Understand US Intentions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Amid North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office, redeployment of military units, and the announcement of the resumption of military exercises in the West Sea, Lee Do-hoon, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Office for Peace and Security Affairs on the Korean Peninsula (pictured), made a sudden visit to the United States. Director-General Lee is expected to meet with Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, who is the U.S. counterpart in dialogue, to discuss the rapidly freezing situation on the Korean Peninsula and request a closer South Korea-U.S. cooperation system.

On the 17th (local time), Director-General Lee arrived urgently through Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., starting his visit to the U.S. When asked about the purpose of his visit, he reportedly refrained from commenting, saying, "I cannot say anything at this time." Some speculate that he may have effectively acted as a special envoy, but considering the sensitivity of the matter, Director-General Lee remained tight-lipped.

Since January, South Korea and the U.S. have only conducted non-face-to-face consultations due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The last official schedule was a phone call with Deputy Secretary Biegun on April 28, during which they shared assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including rumors about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s health. However, as North Korea continued its hardline stance day after day, pushing inter-Korean relations into a state of collapse, the urgency of the situation led to the rapid arrangement of this visit to the U.S.

Accordingly, there is speculation that Director-General Lee’s visit is essentially to perform the role of a special envoy. On the 17th (Korean time), the Blue House held an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., chaired by National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong, to analyze North Korea’s hardline moves and discuss countermeasures. Director-General Lee is expected to meet with U.S. dialogue partners including Deputy Secretary Biegun and Robert O'Brien, White House National Security Advisor, to discuss Korean Peninsula issues based on the meeting results. However, the Blue House stated that the visit was according to a long-planned schedule and denied that he went as a special envoy.

During this visit, Director-General Lee is expected to coordinate responses related to North Korea’s hardline intentions. Considering the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November, it is difficult to resume North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations to overcome the unstable situation on the Korean Peninsula, so he is likely to seek ways to prevent further deterioration. In particular, amid rising domestic criticism regarding the 'South Korea-U.S. Working Group' launched in November 2018, he may also coordinate effective measures for the Working Group meetings.

Experts anticipate that Director-General Lee’s visit will help somewhat ease the heightened tensions and gain insight into the U.S. position. On the 16th (local time), the U.S. State Department issued an unusual statement urging North Korea to "refrain from further actions that would be counterproductive," while fully supporting South Korea’s efforts regarding inter-Korean relations.

Min Hong-chul, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defense Committee, said in an interview with KBS Radio’s "Kim Kyung-rae’s Strongest Current Affairs" on the 18th, "If there was an intention to resolve inter-Korean relations in connection with North Korea-U.S. talks or their progress, it seems that the U.S. is now giving more leeway to the South Korean government’s measures in this phase," adding, "In that sense, Director-General Lee’s visit is appropriate to confirm that intention."

Professor Jung Dae-jin of Ajou University said, "It is natural and appropriate for the working-level official to visit the U.S. at a time when not only a special envoy to North Korea but also a special envoy to the U.S. is needed," and analyzed, "In a situation where discussions on necessary North Korea cards and approaches to induce and transition to a dialogue phase are needed, showing North Korea that South Korea and the U.S. have started discussions is a decision considering the effect of easing tensions."

Meanwhile, North Korea has also begun to slow down. Although North Korea continued a 'verbal bomb relay' by releasing statements from Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party Central Committee, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Jang Kum-chol, head of the United Front Department, and commentary from the Korean Central News Agency the previous day, it responded with a relatively calm statement on this day. Although Kim Sun-kyung, Deputy Minister for Europe at the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement, it was a routine rebuttal to the European Union’s expression of concern over the deterioration of inter-Korean relations. No official statements or messages directed at South Korea were released through North Korean state media.

North Korea blew up the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and a representative achievement of the Panmunjom Declaration. On the 18th, military personnel were on guard duty in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Paju aymsdream@

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