Seoul’s unification minister discusses denuclearization, inter-Korean relations with U.S. Secy. of State
- 6 years ago
It's been confirmed that South Korea's minister of unification, Cho Myoung-gyon, spoke on the phone Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The unification ministry said this morning that the call did take place.
It's a pretty unexpected move, considering that Pompeo's direct counterpart here, foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha,... had met with Pompeo in the U.S. as recently as last week.
It's unclear exactly what they talked about -- the unification ministry says they covered denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the progress in inter-Korean relations.
But considering that South Korea has been asking for exemptions to international sanctions on the North to promote inter-Korean exchanges,... there's speculation that Washington wanted to confirm with the unification minister... that such exchanges aren't getting ahead of Pyongyang's denuclearization.
The unification ministry said this morning that the call did take place.
It's a pretty unexpected move, considering that Pompeo's direct counterpart here, foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha,... had met with Pompeo in the U.S. as recently as last week.
It's unclear exactly what they talked about -- the unification ministry says they covered denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the progress in inter-Korean relations.
But considering that South Korea has been asking for exemptions to international sanctions on the North to promote inter-Korean exchanges,... there's speculation that Washington wanted to confirm with the unification minister... that such exchanges aren't getting ahead of Pyongyang's denuclearization.