US Think Tank: "North Korea-US Working-Level Talks Should Be Pushed Using Kim Yo-jong... DMZ Meeting Possible"

Continuous Efforts by the Korean Government Needed to Create the Right Atmosphere

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A proposal has emerged that the Joe Biden administration, set to launch in January next year, should pursue North Korea-US working-level talks involving Kim Yo-jong, the first vice chairwoman of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un.

On the 19th, Harry Kazianis, Korea director of the US think tank Center for the National Interest, stated at the "US Presidential Election and Korean Peninsula Peace Process-related Korea-US Expert Online Seminar" hosted by the Korea Institute for National Unification, "Summit meetings have limitations," adding, "It is necessary for North Korea to select someone with meaningful authority to engage in working-level talks with the US, and I believe Kim Yo-jong is a good choice."

He particularly predicted the possibility of working-level talks in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Kazianis said, "The Biden administration may want meaningful working-level negotiations," and "If South Korea acts as a bridge, DMZ talks are also possible."

He also advised that continuous efforts by the South Korean government are necessary to create a negotiation atmosphere. He emphasized the need to expand contact points for resuming North Korea-US dialogue before the Biden administration takes office.

Kazianis explained, "Since the North Korea issue is pushed back among the immediate challenges facing President-elect Biden, the South Korean government must actively step forward to foster a negotiation atmosphere," adding, "The South Korean government should prepare the negotiation table and create the environment."

He further stressed, "It is essential to convey to North Korea that 'any provocative acts such as ballistic missile tests, medium- and long-range missile tests will no longer be helpful.'

He also emphasized the need to build trust with the US administration. Kazianis said, "We must not instill fear in the US administration," adding, "The US does not invest in matters where there is no progress," and "When Biden looks at the world, South Korea should appear as a place where meaningful progress can be made."

Regarding the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on South Korea-US defense cost-sharing, he predicted that the issue would be resolved. He forecasted, "The defense cost-sharing issue will be resolved within the first 100 days of Biden's inauguration."

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