During ROK-US Joint Exercises, Special Representative Sung Kim Visits Korea... Why North Korea Remains Quiet

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim is entering the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 22nd to meet with Minister of Unification Lee In-young. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea at the State Department, will visit South Korea on the 21st during the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. Before the start of the joint exercises, North Korea had been flooding with critical messages toward the South, but it has remained silent during the exercises. Attention is focused on the message Kim will deliver during his visit.

According to diplomatic sources on the 20th, Kim is scheduled to visit South Korea on the 21st and hold a South Korea-U.S. senior-level nuclear talks meeting. During this period, Igor Morgulov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and Russia’s senior nuclear talks representative, is also expected to visit South Korea, raising the possibility of consultations among the South Korea-U.S.-Russia senior nuclear representatives.

Before the joint exercises began, North Korea showed sharp reactions such as statements from Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, and non-responsiveness on communication lines. However, once the joint exercises started, North Korea has shown no particular reaction and has maintained silence. The only activity has been low-intensity response drills in the frontline areas. Some interpret this silence as being mindful of Kim’s upcoming visit.

Shin Beom-chul, Director of the Foreign and Security Center at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, said, "It is highly likely that North Korea will listen to Kim’s remarks and respond accordingly," adding, "If North Korea launches missiles during the visit, the U.S. dialogue agenda will likely focus on 'deterring provocations.'" This suggests that North Korea is adjusting its statements and provocation levels with U.S. talks in mind.

However, if the content of the remarks is unsatisfactory, the possibility of North Korea resorting to provocations again cannot be ruled out. When Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, visited South Korea on August 20, 2019, coinciding with the end of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, North Korea launched two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles on the 24th, despite Biegun’s message about preparing to resume working-level talks.

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