Seo Hoon: "The Declaration of the End of the War Cannot Be Separate from Denuclearization"

"An Issue Always Raised at the Negotiation Table"
"There Can Be No Different Thoughts Between Korea and the US"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] "It is common sense to think that the declaration of the end of the war cannot act independently in the process of North Korea's denuclearization."

O'Brien, U.S. National Security Advisor, Meets with Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Seo Hoon, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, who is visiting the U.S. at the invitation of the U.S. government, answered this way on the 15th (local time) at 3 p.m. after meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in response to a question about whether there was some consensus with the U.S. regarding the scope of the declaration of the end of the war discussed during the National Assembly audit, specifically whether it was a declaration based on denuclearization.

Director Seo said, "The issue of the declaration of the end of the war is not a new issue. It has always been on the negotiation table, and there can be no differing opinions between South Korea and the U.S. on that part."

He added, "The only issue is the order of precedence in the process of denuclearization regarding the declaration of the end of the war, or the degree of linkage with denuclearization," and said, "It is better not to make too different or excessive interpretations."

However, Director Seo explained that during his visit to the U.S., "We did not have particularly in-depth discussions about the declaration of the end of the war."

Regarding the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations, he also said that there were no deep conversations, but stated, "It is desirable to reach a reasonable and mutually acceptable agreement as soon as possible."

Regarding the controversy over Ambassador Lee Soo-hyuk’s remark at the National Assembly audit on the 12th that "South Korea chose the U.S. 70 years ago, but that does not mean it will choose the U.S. for the next 70 years," Seo said, "I think there was a slight misunderstanding."

Director Seo had met the day before with his counterpart, Robert O'Brien, National Security Advisor at the White House, for the first time since taking office.

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