Ministry of Unification: "Actively Support Resumption of North Korea-US Talks" in Response to Kim Yo Jong's Statement

Kim Yo Jong, First Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee [Photo by Bae Jae-man] 2018.2.11

The Ministry of Unification announced on the 29th that regarding the statement released by Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, which left room for dialogue with the United States predicated on the recognition of its nuclear power status, "We actively support the resumption of North Korea-US talks for peace on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia."

A Ministry of Unification official stated, "Both South Korea and the United States have consistently expressed their open stance towards dialogue with North Korea for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue."

He added, "We will continue to steadfastly pursue efforts to restore trust between the South and the North within a peaceful atmosphere and create conditions to promote the resumption of North Korea-US talks."

In her statement that day, Vice Department Director Kim said that the recognition of North Korea's nuclear power status is "a premise for anticipating and considering everything."

She further stated, "There should be at least minimal judgment to recognize the fact that it is never beneficial for two nuclear-armed states to move in a confrontational direction," adding, "It would be good to seek other avenues of contact based on such new thinking."

This has led to analysis suggesting that it means recognizing North Korea's nuclear power status and engaging in nuclear disarmament talks. Yonhap News Agency