Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, right, talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Wednesday. / Joint press corps

US envoy has no intention to contact NK side during Seoul visit

By Kang Seung-woo

U.S. special representative to North Korea Stephen Biegun said Wednesday that the Trump administration "strongly" stands behind the government's efforts to promote inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation.

His remarks came amid lingering speculation that Washington is uncomfortable with Seoul's independent push for inter-Korean ties, as the U.S. government has repeatedly insisted that such cooperation proceed in lockstep with progress in denuclearizing North Korea.

Biegun, who doubles as the deputy secretary of state, also said contacting North Korean officials was not the purpose of his Seoul visit this time, brushing away speculations of any possible contact.

"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean peninsula," Biegun told reporters following a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, the special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, at the foreign ministry in Seoul, where he also sat down with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Vice Minister Cho Sei-young earlier in the day.

"We look forward to fully supporting the government of Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea in inter-Korean cooperation," he added.

His remarks come as the Moon Jae-in administration is set to adopt a harder drive for independent inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation with the North, as evidenced by Friday's reshuffle of his diplomacy and national security teams, which he filled with so-called pro-North Korea figures including National Intelligence Service (NIS) director nominee Park Jie-won, a key figure in arranging the first inter-Korean summit in 2000.

Along with Park, Im Jong-seok, a former presidential chief of staff who has called for independent yet aggressive actions to improve stalled inter-Korean relations, and Suh Hoon, Moon's first NIS chief who was also involved in the 2000 inter-Korean summit, have also joined the teams as a special adviser for diplomatic and security affairs and director of the National Security Office, respectively.

Despite the U.S.' supportive stance toward inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, Biegun failed to go into details as he parried question about the South Korea-U.S. working group. The group, set up in November 2018 to coordinate issues regarding the North, has been under siege recently for allegedly hindering progress in inter-Korean ties due to its "excessively harsh" standards adopted on the North.

Going tit-for-tat

On Biegun's visit to Seoul, North Korea said it would not meet him during his three-day stay here ― a stance announced twice, first by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui last Saturday and then again by North Korean Foreign Ministry North America Department head Kwon Jong-gun, Tuesday, hours before the American envoy's arrival in Seoul.

Their statements came amid growing speculation that Biegun could have been carrying a message from U.S. President Donald Trump for the North, which may have included an offer to hold another summit ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

In response, Biegun paid them back.

"Let me clarify one thing. I've seen some press comments of late that North Koreans are not prepared to meet with me on this visit. It's somewhat strange because we did not request a visit with North Koreans. Let me be absolutely clear. We did not request a visit. This visit is to meet with our close allies. With South Koreans we had excellent discussions," he told reporters.

"I also want to be very clear on one point. I do not take my direction from Vice Minister Choe Son-hui nor for that matter do I take it from Ambassador (John) Bolton. I take my guidance from the conclusion of several meetings that President Trump and Chairman Kim (Jong-un) had over the last two years."

However, Biegun left room for negotiations with the North, saying the U.S. looks forward to continuing its work for a peaceful outcome on the Korean Peninsula.

"When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me, who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment," he said.

"I believe this is very much possible."