Seoul/Washington : , Seoul’s Vice Foreign Minister met with his counterpart in the United States to discuss ways of getting North Korea back into dialogue.This included the possibility for a formal declaration ending the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, Seoul’s foreign ministry reported Wednesday.During the 60-minute talks in Washington, D.C.on Tuesday, South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also discussed the alliance and other issues of common interest, including Covid-19 vaccines and the global supply chain crisis, according to the ministry, reported Yonhap news agency.According to Yonhap news agency, Choi Jong-kun, South Korea’s first vice foreign minister, and Wendy Sherman, the US Deputy Secretary, discussed the alliance as well as other matters of mutual interest, such Covid-19 vaccines, and the current supply chain crisis.
“The vice ministers assessed seamless communications and coordination under way at all levels on ways to make progress in the Korea peace process, including the end-of-war declaration, and agreed to continue consultations on practical measures to bring North Korea to the dialogue table,” the ministry said in a press release.The ministry released a statement saying that vice ministers had evaluated seamless communication and coordination at all levels regarding ways to move forward in the Korea peace Process, which included the declaration of an end to war.They also agreed to keep in touch with each other on practical steps to get North Korea back to the table.It gave no other details on the consultation on the sensitive issue of Seoul’s push for the declaration in a bid to help revitalize the Korea peace process.
The ministry did not provide any further details about the meeting on sensitive issues such as Seoul’s request for the declaration to revive the Korea peace process.
The US State Department released a separate statement on the results of the meeting, in which it made no direct mention of the proposed end-of-war declaration despite the reaffirmation of “shared commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.”.A separate US State Department statement was released on the outcomes of the meeting.
It did not mention the end-of war declaration, despite the affirmation of “shared determination to complete denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula.
The liberal Moon Jae-in administration of South Korea says such a declaration, if issued, will help restart denuclearisation negotiations with North Korea, which have stalled since 2019.
According to the liberal Moon Jaein administration in South Korea, such a declaration will, if it is issued, help resume denuclearisation talks with North Korea.These negotiations have been stalled since 2019.
It is running out of time, with the election to pick Moon’s successor slated for March next year.The election for Moon’s replacement is scheduled for March 2019.
Concerns have persisted that the allies may have divergent views, or even a rift, on the matter.There have been concerns that allies might have different views or even a rift on this matter.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan earlier said publicly that the two sides may differ “on the precise sequence or timing or conditions for different steps” for the declaration.Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, stated publicly earlier that there could be differences between the sides “on the exact sequence or timing of different steps.”
On Thursday, South Korea’s top diplomat Chung Eui-yong said the allies’ coordination over the declaration was in its final stages.Chung Euiyong, South Korea’s top diplomat, stated that the final stages of the coordination between allies over the declaration were in their last stages.
Choi also said upon arriving in Washington on Sunday that he expects “good results” from discussions with the US in the not too distant future.Choi said that upon his arrival in Washington, Sunday, he expected “good results” in future negotiations with the US.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Choi and Sherman also discussed Iran issues, the foreign ministry said, apparently referring to the Iranian assets frozen in South Korea under US sanctions, and the vice minister vowed continued support for Washington’s nuclear talks with the Middle Eastern country.Sherman and Choi also met Tuesday to discuss Iran issues.
This was apparently in reference to Iranian assets that were held hostage by South Korea because of US sanctions.The vice-minister pledged continued support for Washington’s nuclear negotiations with the Middle East country.
Sherman welcomed South Korea’s “regional and global leadership” and reaffirmed the US will continue working with allies and partners “to defend the rules-based international order” as well as Washington’s support for “all those working toward the peaceful restoration” of Myanmar’s path to democracy, according to department spokesman Ned Price.According to Ned Price, a department spokesperson, Sherman had welcomed South Korea’s “regional leadership” and reiterated the US’s commitment to working with partners and allies “to protect the rules-based international system” and Washington’s support of “all those who work toward peaceful restoration” Myanmar’s path towards democracy.
“Deputy Secretary Sherman and First Vice Foreign Minister Choi reaffirmed the US-ROK Alliance as the linchpin of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” he said in a press release, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.In a press release, he stated that “Deputy Secretary Sherman” and the First Vice Foreign Minister Choi had affirmed the US-ROK Alliance, as being the key to peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
He was referring specifically to South Korea, which is known by the Republic of Korea.
The bilateral meeting between Choi and Sherman, the third of its kind this year, came one day before the US and South Korean diplomats were set to be joined by their Japanese counterpart, Takeo Mori, for trilateral talks.
Choi and Sherman had their third bilateral meeting this year.This was one day after the US and South Korean diplomats planned to join Takeo Mori (Japan counterpart) for trilateral negotiations.
“The Deputy Secretary and the First Vice Foreign Minister underscored US-Japan-ROK cooperation as essential to tackling the global challenges of the 21st Century, including combating Covid-19 and the climate crisis, and ensuring resilient supply chains and post-pandemic economic recovery,” Price said in his statement.Price stated in his statement that the Deputy Secretary and First Vice Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of US-Japan cooperation to address the 21st Century’s global challenges, such as combating Covid-19, the climate crisis and creating resilient supply chains for post-pandemic recovery.
The state department said the three will hold a joint press event following their meeting in Washington on Wednesday.According to the state department, they will host a press conference after their Washington meeting on Wednesday.
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