Jung Se-hyun: "North Korea Will Talk with the US Only If Suspension of ROK-US Joint Military Exercises Is Guaranteed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jeong Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, stated on the 28th, "North Korea can engage in talks with the United States if the suspension of the South Korea-US joint military exercises is firmly guaranteed, but if not, they will not be interested no matter how much rhetoric is used."

In his keynote speech at the '2021 Seoul Peace Conference' hosted by the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seoul that afternoon, Vice Chairman Jeong said, "A clear message from the South Korean and US governments regarding the suspension of the joint military exercises is necessary."

He also referred to President Moon Jae-in's remark at the luncheon meeting with the leaders of the five ruling and opposition parties on the 26th, saying, "Large-scale face-to-face exercises are difficult due to COVID-19," and added, "It seems the government is conducting behind-the-scenes work related to the South Korea-US joint exercises to create conditions for North Korea to come to the dialogue table."

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