Sung Kim, US Special Representative for North Korea, Reaffirms 'ROK-US Alliance Foundation' During Visit to Korea... Also Highlights Limits of 'North Korea Policy'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea at the State Department, reaffirmed the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the need for coordinated North Korea policy during his five-day visit to South Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to diplomatic circles on the 23rd, Representative Kim met with current government officials including Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, Unification Minister Lee In-young, and No Kyu-duk, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as key figures in the foreign and security sectors of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which will take office on the 10th of next month, during his visit from the 18th to the 22nd.

Previously, on the afternoon of the 22nd, Kim departed for Indonesia, where he serves as ambassador, the host country.

On the 18th, during the South Korea-U.S. senior-level talks on North Korea’s nuclear issues with Director No, Kim indicated a tough stance by stating, “We will firmly respond to any further provocations by North Korea through South Korea-U.S. cooperation.” However, he also expressed that there is no hostile intent toward North Korea and that he is open to unconditional dialogue with North Korea.

No Kyu-duk, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea at the Department of State, are holding a consultation on North Korea nuclear issues between South Korea and the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 18th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

On the 19th, Kim met sequentially with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Unification Minister Lee In-young to discuss responses to North Korea. These meetings had a ‘farewell’ nature as both ministers are stepping down in line with the new government’s inauguration next month.

Foreign Minister Chung, who met with Kim, said, “During the current administration’s term, close cooperation and communication between South Korea and the U.S. on Korean Peninsula issues have been maintained,” and added, “Going forward, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula must be maintained through continuous progress in the ‘Korean Peninsula Peace Process.’”

Kim expressed agreement and reaffirmed his previous position, saying, “We must firmly respond to North Korea’s provocations through close South Korea-U.S. cooperation,” and “The U.S. remains open to unconditional dialogue with North Korea.”

In the afternoon, Kim visited the Ministry of Unification to meet Minister Lee and expressed gratitude for the cooperation so far. He mentioned being open to dialogue and diplomacy for engagement with North Korea, urging, “Let us respond to North Korea’s provocations through close coordination and communication between South Korea and the U.S.”

After meeting with officials from the current administration, Kim continued meetings with key figures in the foreign and security sectors of the new government.

On the 20th, Kim met with Park Jin, the nominee for Foreign Minister, stating, “The Biden administration has high expectations for close cooperation with the Yoon Suk-yeol government in pursuing North Korea policy,” and added, “Given the serious situation on the Korean Peninsula, we will prioritize close South Korea-U.S. cooperation in our response.”

The following day, he held successive meetings with Kim Sung-han, the secretary of the foreign and security subcommittee of the Presidential Transition Committee, and Kwon Young-se, the nominee for Unification Minister.

Kim reportedly had a private breakfast meeting with Secretary Kim to discuss North Korea’s nuclear issues. Secretary Kim leads the foreign and security subcommittee of the transition committee and is drafting the security policy blueprint for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. Having played a leading role in foreign and security affairs since the campaign, he is considered a strong candidate for the first National Security Office chief in the presidential office.

Secretary Kim and Representative Kim likely exchanged views on the direction of the next government’s response to North Korea’s nuclear program amid concerns over additional provocations such as intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches and nuclear tests.

Following this, Kim visited the Nam-Buk Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, where nominee Kwon’s confirmation hearing preparation office is located, and also met with Kwon.

Meeting with the next head of the Ministry of Unification, the main agency responsible for inter-Korean relations, they likely discussed issues related to inter-Korean relations in the process of North Korea’s denuclearization.

On the 21st, Kwon Young-se, the nominee for Minister of Unification, is meeting with Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Inter-Korean Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Photo by the office of Kwon Young-se, nominee for Minister of Unification)

Diplomatic circles view Kim’s visit as taking place ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s first visit to South Korea, expected on the 20th of next month, and believe that it served as an opportunity to coordinate agendas related to North Korea policy to be discussed at the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit.

However, some criticize that the visit only reaffirmed the South Korea-U.S. stance amid heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s ICBM test launch on the 24th of last month. This is because North Korea has shown no movement despite pressure and calls for dialogue from both South Korean and U.S. governments.

North Korea has previously set the withdrawal of hostile policies and double standards as preconditions for dialogue and has not responded at all to dialogue proposals from either South Korea or the U.S.

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