Park Ji-won Returns on the 1st, Discusses Korean Peninsula Situation in the US

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, will return to Korea on the 1st after a 6-night, 7-day trip to the United States.

According to diplomatic circles on the 1st, Director Park, who departed on the 26th of last month, is expected to enter Korea through Incheon Airport from New York in the afternoon.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Director Park reportedly focused on strengthening intelligence exchange and cooperation regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula by meeting with U.S. intelligence officials, including William Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during his stay in the United States.

This visit to the U.S. attracted attention as it took place shortly after the Korea-U.S. summit on the 21st (local time).

Since the two leaders agreed to continue dialogue with North Korea in respect of the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration between the South and North Korean leaders and the Singapore Joint Statement between the U.S. and North Korea, it is believed that discussions on ways to bring North Korea to the negotiating table and sharing assessments of North Korean trends and the situation were conducted.

There were some speculations that Director Park would contact the North Korean mission to the United Nations in New York, but it is known that no contact with North Korea took place.

Director Park’s itinerary during his visit to the U.S. was not disclosed in detail. However, it is known that he traveled between New York and Washington, D.C. In this regard, the day before, Director Park left a comment on former Democratic United Party lawmaker Kim Yoo-jung’s Facebook post, saying, "Yesterday in DC and today in NY, it is 5 (oh) degrees and raining."

Diplomatic circles expect changes in the situation on the Korean Peninsula in the future, as intelligence agencies of Korea, the U.S., and Japan have been actively exchanging information recently.

On the 12th of last month, Director Park held a trilateral meeting of intelligence chiefs from Korea, the U.S., and Japan in Japan. Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) of the U.S., who attended this meeting, immediately visited Korea, met with President Moon Jae-in, and shared assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula with Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, and Director Park.

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