Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon speaks at a meeting in Seoul with European envoys. [Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL -- With North Korea and the United States locking their horns to fix an agenda for a summit between their leaders, a senior South Korean official proposed a simultaneous settlement Wednesday of two contentious issues: denuclearization and safety of the communist regime.
Both sides have been locked in tough negotiations this week in the truce village of Panmunjom which sits across the inter-Korean border to prepare for the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore.
Kim Yong-chol, one of the North Korean leader's confidants, is on his way to New York for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, raising hopes that Washington and Pyongyang may try and seek a big deal.
In Seoul, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon in charge of cross-border affairs expressed guarded optimism that North Korea and the United States could find out a point of compromise.
"There are still big differences between North Korea and the United States in their stance toward denuclearization," Cho said in a speech before European envoys. "It will not be easy to narrow the gap and compromise, but I believe it is not impossible," he said.
At the beginning, there was a temporary "Up and Down" as seen last week in Trump's abrupt decision to call off the Singapore summit, but the two sides are now exchanging "positions and discussing in earnest," the minister said. "I think both sides are increasing the possibility of finding a trade-off point because they are involved in direct negotiations in a top-down manner."
Cho said South Korea favors a simultaneous settlement of denuclearization and the guarantee of North Korea's system security. North Korea has insisted on phased and synchronous steps that raised suspicions among U.S. officials about Pyongyang's true intentions.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said earlier that Kim was worried that once North Korea realizes denuclearization, Trump can give a firm and trustful pledge to end hostilities and guarantee the regime's security.
U.S. officials have suggested a "package deal" to rid the North of its nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, including major ballistic missiles, Yonhap News Agency said, adding they hope for the speedy implementation of an agreement in a bid to reduce the chance of the North again reneging on its denuclearization commitment.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
