Sherman: "Appointment of Special Representative for North Korea Signals Readiness for Dialogue with North Korea"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, said on the 2nd that the U.S. government is ready to engage in dialogue with North Korea.

During her tour of Southeast Asia, Deputy Secretary Sherman mentioned in a phone briefing with Asian journalists in Bangkok, Thailand, that President Joe Biden recently appointed Sung Kim as the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, stating, "This is another signal that we are ready to talk with North Korea."

She added, "We hope they (North Korea) will accept that possibility (of dialogue with the U.S.)." She also said, "We have communicated our policy to North Korea."

This statement is significant in light of the announcement of Sung Kim’s appointment following the summit between President Biden and President Moon Jae-in at the White House on the 21st of last month. In particular, the policy Sherman referred to as having been "communicated to North Korea" appears to be the new North Korea policy that the Biden administration announced it had completed reviewing at the end of April.

Deputy Secretary Sherman also conveyed in the briefing that Special Representative Kim will return to Indonesia as ambassador.

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