By Kim Young Shin

Cheong Wa Dae has expressed its hope for U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Pyeongyang next week, saying that it hopes that the visit will help to make big progress on denuclearization and on peace on the Korean Peninsula, during a press briefing in Seoul on Aug. 24.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom said that the new U.S. special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, a vice president at Ford, will be “an influential figure.” Kim said, “The new U.S. special representative shows that Pompeo’s trip this time is more important than the ones before.”

Regarding the upcoming inter-Korean summit in Pyeongyang to be held in September, Kim said, "The schedule and the items on the itinerary at the summit will be specified after this visit.”

ysk1111@korea.kr