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Scrapping nuclear facility key in expected U.S.-N. Korea summit

Scrapping nuclear facility key in expected U.S.-N. Korea summit

Posted January. 18, 2019 07:30,   

Updated January. 18, 2019 07:30

한국어

The U.S.-North Korea high-level talks that have been stalled since the cancellation of a New York meeting last November have regained steam through North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's New Year speech calling for talks and the exchanges of letters between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Kim Jong Un did the right thing," said Moon Chung-in, special adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. "As Kim said in the Pyongyang Joint Declaration (following an inter-Korean summit) in September, he was willing to permanently scrap the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, the core of the North's nuclear development, in accordance with corresponding measures taken by the U.S., the ball is now in the U.S. court." He added, "If a second U.S.-North Korea summit produces partial lifting of North Korea sanctions, Kim Jong Un will likely visit Seoul and have significant talks about many issues including ways to promote inter-Korean economic cooperation."

Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, left for Washington on United Airlines flight UA808 at 6:25 p.m. on Thursday in Beijing. He will be likely meeting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss issues including an expected second Trump-Kim summit.


Dong-Il Seo dong@donga.com