Jeong Eui-yong Holds Diplomatic Talks with US Secretary of State in UK to Discuss North Korea Nuclear Issue

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Jeong Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting the UK to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting, will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the 3rd to discuss North Korea's nuclear issue and other matters related to the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (right) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken are taking a commemorative photo before their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doryeom-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 3rd, Minister Jeong plans to hold a Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting with Secretary Blinken at 10:30 a.m. local time in London on the 3rd.

They are expected to coordinate the agenda for the Korea-U.S. summit, discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula including the North Korean nuclear issue, bilateral cooperation such as COVID-19 vaccines, and international issues.

Furthermore, since the U.S. recently completed its review of North Korea policy and provided a detailed explanation to the Korean government, the two ministers are anticipated to discuss ways to effectively implement this policy to bring North Korea to the dialogue table.

Separately, the G7 will address issues related to Iran and North Korea during this meeting. Secretary Blinken will attend the G7 welcome dinner concerning Iran and North Korea at 7 p.m. on the 3rd.

As the meeting is limited to G7 member countries, Minister Jeong, attending as an invited guest, will not join the dinner; however, it is noteworthy that North Korea issues will be discussed at the G7 level.

Minister Jeong is scheduled to participate in discussions related to the Indo-Pacific regional situation, open societies, health and vaccines, climate change, education, and gender equality at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting from the 4th to the 5th.

On the 5th, he is also expected to hold a trilateral Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers' meeting with Secretary Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu.

This will be Minister Jeong's first meeting with Minister Motegi since his inauguration in February, where they are expected to discuss common interests such as COVID-19 response, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Tokyo Olympics, and regional issues.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also attempting to arrange a Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the G7 meeting, but its confirmation has not yet been decided.

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