Lee Do-hoon Visits US Ahead of US Presidential Election... Discussions on 'End of War Declaration and North Korea Shooting Incident'

Contacted Various US Administration Officials Including Vegans
Judging Important Periods Such as the Korean Peninsula Situation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As the South and North Korea present conflicting accounts and facts regarding the execution of a South Korean official who defected to the North, intensifying political blame games, Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (photo), has embarked on a trip to the United States to discuss the "Korean Peninsula End-of-War Declaration" and other issues. With the possibility of rapid changes on the Korean Peninsula being raised, high-level face-to-face diplomacy between South Korea and the U.S. is unfolding urgently ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, drawing keen attention to its outcomes.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 28th, Lee Do-hoon, South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, will meet with U.S. administration officials, including Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, by the 30th (local time). This marks the third high-level visit to the U.S. this month, following visits by Choi Jong-geun, First Vice Foreign Minister, and Kim Hyun-jong, Deputy Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House.

During this trip, Lee plans to discuss the End-of-War Declaration on the Korean Peninsula, which President Moon Jae-in announced in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 23rd. Considering the situation on the peninsula and political issues in the U.S., this is seen as a critical turning point. On the 27th (local time), at Dulles Airport near Washington D.C., Lee told reporters that when asked if he would discuss the End-of-War Declaration with the U.S., "The purpose of this visit is to talk about all related issues, so naturally, I intend to discuss the End-of-War Declaration." When asked if the declaration would be pursued before the U.S. presidential election, he added, "I will discuss it. I plan to talk about what thoughts are being considered."

Before departure at Incheon Airport, he also told reporters, "We are currently at a very important point in advancing the Korean Peninsula peace process," adding, "I plan to meet with Representative Biegun to closely coordinate on how to manage the current situation stably and resume dialogue to promote the task of establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula."

The incident in which North Korea shot the South Korean official who defected to the North is also expected to be on the discussion table. An unusual official apology from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un was issued four days after the incident, and discussions are likely to continue regarding the letters exchanged between the South and North Korean leaders on the 8th and 12th. Before departure, Lee said, "The current task is to establish the facts, and I will not make presumptions about the impact on inter-Korean relations." After arriving in the U.S. at Dulles Airport, he said, "I plan to focus on how we can cooperate together (with the U.S.)."

Meanwhile, Vice Foreign Minister Choi visited the U.S. from the 9th to the 12th to discuss bilateral issues and review the Korean Peninsula peace process, agreeing to establish a working-level body called the "Alliance Dialogue." Shortly after Choi’s visit, Kim Hyun-jong, Deputy Director of the National Security Office, secretly visited the U.S. from the 16th to the 20th for four nights and five days, meeting with officials from the State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and think tank representatives.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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