U.S. special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun, left, talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, second from right, during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, Aug. 21. AP-Yonhap

By Kim Yoo-chul

Washington is waiting for a response from Pyongyang to resume working-level discussions on denuclearization as the United States is ready to engage with Pyongyang, a senior U.S. government official said, Wednesday.

"Regarding the restarting of the negotiation, we're prepared to engage as soon as we hear from our counterparts in North Korea," U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said in a short press briefing after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We discussed a number of issues of mutual interest to our government and continued our close cooperation on matters related to North Korea. I appreciate this strong and continued cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan," he added.

Biegun dispelled speculations that he would replace outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Jon Huntsman as U.S. President Donald Trump has assigned him to restart working-level negotiations.

"I wanted to dispel any rumors that I'll be leaving this portfolio to take up an ambassadorship abroad. I will not be taking up a diplomatic posting in the Russian Federation and I will remain focused on making progress on North Korea. President Trump gave me and my team the assignment to restart working-level negotiations with North Korea. I'm fully committed to this important mission and we will get this done," he said leaving the ministry headquarters without taking any questions from the media.