`Washington has more than will in improving inter-Korean relations`

North Korean National Defence Commission Vice Chairman Hwang Pyong So’s visit to South Korea is a preliminary step for the improvement of the inter-Korean relations and the three senior leaders’ visit came out of its extensive offensive to address isolation in the international community, a U.S. official said on Monday.

The U.S. has "more than will" for the improvement of the bilateral relationship, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel said in an exclusive interview with the Dong-A Ilbo in the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Monday afternoon.

The improvement of inter-Korea relations is possible only when Pyongyang implements denuclearization, which it promised to the international community, and complies with the UN Security Council sanctions, Russel said. After saying that North Korea`s parallel policy of nuclear development and economic development is a great "fallacy," he said that any other country will not support the North`s policy and this message should be clearly delivered to the leadership of Pyongyang.

Instead of giving a straight answer on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s health, Russel said that what’s more important to him is the health and welfare of those who live in the north of the Korean Peninsula.