Seoul, Pyongyang, and Washington Have an Unofficial Meeting

Lee Kun from the North Korean Foreign Ministry, Wi Sung-lak, the minister of Political Affairs at South Korea`s Embassy in Washington, and a U.S. State Department personnel held the first unofficial meeting at a National Committee on American Foreign Policy seminar (NCAFP) in New York on March 6 local time.

The NCAFP, a private think tank, also held a seminar last year similar to this and invited the North Korean delegate. At the seminar, Lee said, "North Korea and the U.S. had a straightforward discussion. It was meaningful." However, he did not comment on the possibility of a resumption of the six-party talks and said, "I am not here for that. See you tomorrow."

Michael Green, former senior director at the National Security Council for Asian affairs, attended the event and said, "It was a very interesting seminar. I personally believe that North Korea could return to the talks." Donald P. Gregg, chairman of the Korea Society, also said the meeting was helpful.

Wi said, "Though it was an unofficial setting, all parties could voice their opinions sufficiently and sincerely. The seminar provided Pyongyang and Washington with a window of opportunity to better understand each other`s stance." However, he also said, "Last year`s unofficial meeting led to the resumption of the six-way talks. However, the meeting this time around cannot guarantee the same results as last year despite a rosy picture for the communist country`s return to the talks."

The U.S. State Department announced that Kathleen Stephens, the deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Daniel Glaser, the Treasury Department’s deputy assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, will attend Tuesday`s meeting, in which Washington will make a direct explanation regarding its imposition of financial sanctions on Pyongyang.

Jong sik Kong kong@donga.com