Vegan Vice Minister: "Singapore Agreement Still Holds Potential... North Korea Must Resume Diplomacy"

Special Public Lecture at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Reflecting on Over Two Years and Sharing Views on Korean Peninsula Issues and ROK-US Alliance
"North Korea Wasted Opportunities in the Past Two Years... For an Era of Peace, South Korea, North Korea, and the US Must Work Together for Success"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, currently visiting Korea, stated that North Korea has wasted too many opportunities over the past two years, but he hopes for serious diplomacy between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un going forward.

On the 10th, Deputy Secretary Biegun, at a special public lecture titled "The Future of the United States and the Korean Peninsula," hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said, "Although we failed to advance the Singapore Agreement, its potential still exists," adding, "Despite the missed opportunities over the past two years, I believe the vision for the Korean Peninsula shared by President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un since I took on the role of Special Representative for North Korea is achievable."

He emphasized that the work for the Korean Peninsula peace process is not over yet and stressed the need to resolve issues through diplomacy. He said, "Our efforts are not over and should not be," adding, "We must resolve issues through diplomacy, and I believe that is the only way," and urged North Korea to make efforts to resume diplomacy by the 8th Workers' Party Congress in January next year.

Referring to bilateral issues between South Korea and the U.S., such as defense cost-sharing negotiations and the transfer of wartime operational control, he stated that the ROK-U.S. alliance has evolved and must continue to evolve. Deputy Secretary Biegun said, "The ROK-U.S. alliance has played a role in ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," adding, "The situation on the Korean Peninsula has changed over 70 years, and the alliance has evolved and must continue to evolve."

He also left a final message for North Korea. Deputy Secretary Biegun said, "A new team will come in the future, and I will share my experience and wisdom with them," emphasizing, "The war is over, and an era of peace has come. For success, South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. must work together."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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