"'Farewell Visit to Korea' Byun with Lee Do-hoon: Expecting Discussions on Transitional Peninsula Stability and North Korea Dialogue Momentum"

Vegan U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea: "Two and a Half Years of Leadership, Alliances, and Friendship... Shared Moments of Success and Setbacks"
South Korea-U.S. Senior Nuclear Envoys Consultation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, who began his visit to Korea with a vice ministerial meeting with Choi Jong-geon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Peace and Security Affairs on the Korean Peninsula, on the afternoon of the 9th for a senior-level consultation on North Korea's nuclear issues. Director Lee has worked closely with Deputy Secretary Biegun for over two years since Biegun was appointed as the Special Representative for North Korea in 2018.

Before entering the senior-level consultation on North Korea's nuclear issues held at 3 p.m. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Seoul, Director Lee referred to Biegun's first visit to Korea after his appointment as Special Representative, stating, "Looking back, the situation on the Korean Peninsula has been like a turbulent roller coaster."

Director Lee then mentioned two core principles, saying, "We have committed ourselves to resolving the Korean Peninsula issue solely through dialogue and negotiations, and our two teams have worked as one through constant communication and smooth coordination," adding, "I hope for productive consultations on how to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula during this transitional period and how to sustain momentum for dialogue with North Korea."

In response, Deputy Secretary Biegun evaluated the past two and a half years as a journey of leadership, two alliances, and friendship, saying, "President Moon Jae-in, President Trump, and Chairman Kim Jong-un have worked with a determination not to be bound by past actions to advance a completely new vision among the leaders," adding, "Although that vision has not been completed, it was a story of the two alliances."

He continued, "The two countries have worked to advance peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to create a new future for North Korea’s stability, prosperity, and its people," adding, "We have shared moments of success when we made breakthroughs after countless late-night calls and trips around the world, as well as moments of frustration when those efforts collapsed right before our eyes."

Deputy Secretary Biegun also expressed, "I deeply thank Director Lee and the Korean people as the Special Representative for North Korea," and said, "I look forward to working together to lay the groundwork for those who will come after us."

Deputy Secretary Biegun has been deeply involved in Korean Peninsula issues as the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea for over two years. Since his appointment in August 2018, he has played a role as a channel for dialogue among South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S., including the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi in February 2019. Even after his promotion to Deputy Secretary in December last year, he has continued to serve as Special Representative, showing enthusiasm to resume stalled North Korea-U.S. talks.

Deputy Secretary Biegun, who will complete his visit by the 11th, is scheduled to meet with Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, Park Jie-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, and the Blue House’s foreign and security officials. The meeting with Minister Lee is expected to focus on stable management of the Korean Peninsula situation during the U.S. administration transition rather than sending messages for breakthroughs in North Korea-U.S. negotiations. Unusually, on the 10th, he will also give a public lecture at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

Minister Kang Kyung-wha plans to host a dinner to encourage Deputy Secretary Biegun and the U.S. delegation at the diplomatic residence in Hannam-dong on the 11th. Earlier, on the 9th, Director Lee Do-hoon and on the 10th, Deputy Minister Choi Jong-geon will personally attend to Deputy Secretary Biegun’s dinner.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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