U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun traveled to New York on Thursday local time to brief the UN Security Council on the outcome of the recent North Korea-U.S. summit in Vietnam's capital last month.
During an hour-long meeting with 15 members of the UN Security Council, including the five permanent ones -- China, France, Russia, the UK, and the U.S. -- it was reported that Biegun called for the support of the council to maintain dialogue with Pyeongyang while trying to deter the regime from any provocations, citing the recent reconstruction movements at the North's previous missile test site.
Biegun said Pyeongyang and Washington could not sign an agreement in Hanoi, but that the talks were "constructive" and the door is open for dialogue for North Korea.
Meanwhile, Cho Tae-yul, South Korea's Ambassador to the U.N, also participated in the meeting, following the invitation from the UNSC due to involvement in the denuclearization talks, despite non-membership. Cho hosted lunch talks with Biegun the same day to discuss the latest developments.
South Korea and the United States have agreed to maintain close cooperation to improve inter-Korean relations in a way that helps restart the nuclear dialogue between North Korea and the U.S.
According to Seoul's foreign ministry on Friday,the two sides had a working-group session in Washington on Thursday, local time.
Multiple sources say they agreed on a sanctions waiver required for video reunions for war separated families.
The State Department also said Seoul and Washington discussed efforts to achieve North Korea's final, fully verified denuclearization through the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
According to reports by Bloomberg and other news outlets,Washington wants its allies to pay "cost-plus-50" for the stationing of American troops, meaning U.S. allies in Asia and Europe would pay the full cost of hosting U.S. troops and 50 percent more for the privilege.
However, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, acting U.S. defense secretary Patrick Shanahan denied the reports.
Despite shooting down reports of a so-called "premium service", Shanahan said the U.S. is "not going to run a business" and it's "not going to run a charity".
South Korea and Japan have agreed to continue negotiations to avoid a further strain in ties over Seoul's court rulings on Japan's use of forced labor during World War two.
Director-General for Northeast Asian Affairs, Kim Yong-kil, and his Japanese counterpart, Kenji Kanasugi met on Thursday,to discuss ways to resolve the bilateral dispute.
The session came amid reports that Tokyo is reviewing economic retaliation.
According to an official at the foreign ministry,the two sides agreed to avoid such actions, Kanasugi is scheduled to meet Seoul's top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon on Friday to discuss North Korea's denuclearization.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in is in Cambodia on the last leg of his three-nation tour of the ASEAN region.
He is expected to talk about his administration's so-called New Southern Policy aimed at building bridges between South Korea and Southeast Asia.
Source: Arirang News
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