By Kim Young Shin

The government announced on Aug. 30 that it is determined to focus on solving the denuclearization issue during the upcoming inter-Korean summit that will be held in Pyeongyang in September.

“Denuclearization was the key issue in the Panmunjeom Declaration and the Sentosa Agreement, and meetings among the leaders of the two Koreas and the U.S.,” said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom during a press briefing in Seoul on Aug. 30. “Regardless of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to the North or not, denuclearization remains the most important item to be discussed between the two Korean leaders, and there is no change in the fact that the upcoming summit will be focused on that matter.”

The spokesperson also commented on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement on Twitter. The U.S. president Tweeted that, “The President believes that his relationship with Kim Jong Un is a very good and warm one, and there is no reason at this time to be spending large amounts of money on joint U.S.-South Korea war games.” The spokesperson said that this corresponds with Cheong Wa Dae’s position concerning peace on the Korean Peninsula, and that joint military drills are an issue that will be discussed between Seoul and Washington.

ysk1111@korea.kr