Jung Sye-kyun: "Difficult to Predict North Korea-US Summit Success Within This Year"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said regarding the possibility of a North Korea-US summit taking place within this year, "It is difficult to easily predict when it will be held."

On the 22nd, during a government questioning session on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security held at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Chung responded this way to a question from Kim Kyung-hyup of the Democratic Party of Korea about the possibility of the North Korea-US summit occurring within this year.

Prime Minister Chung said, "There is the US presidential election, and both North Korea and the US have not yet overcome the difficulties following the last Hanoi summit, so it is hard to make a definite judgment on whether it will take place within this year."

He continued, "Judging from statements by US officials and North Korea's responses, it seems they are not completely uninterested in each other," adding, "However, it appears they are unable to make a prompt decision, and especially since the North has not responded for a considerable period, we need to wait a little longer."

Regarding the question about the positions of South Korea, North Korea, the US, and China on a Korean Peninsula end-of-war declaration, Prime Minister Chung said, "I understand that all four countries are, in principle, in favor of the end-of-war declaration," but added, "However, the end-of-war declaration is not a separate issue and the situation is very complex, making it difficult to proceed." He further stated, "An agreement must be reached with the relevant parties, and the international community must share a consensus, but that has not yet been achieved."

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