By Kim Young Shin

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on May 16 at the request of her U.S. counterpart. They shared their opinions on issues of mutual interest, such as North Korea’s notification of its postponement of high-level inter-Korean talks.

Minister Kang outlined Korea’s stance on the North’s notice. “The Korean government is firmly determined to continue to faithfully implement the Panmunjeom Declaration and will urge North Korea to come forward for talks as early as possible for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula,” she said.

“The U.S. will continue to prepare for the U.S.-North Korea summit, keeping the North Korean action in mind,” said Pompeo.

“The minister and the secretary agreed to continue close collaboration between Korea and the U.S., to make a success of the U.S.-North Korea summit based on the accomplishments of the Inter-Korean Summit on April 27, and thereby achieve complete denuclearization and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula,” said the foreign ministry. “They agreed to contact each other frequently whenever necessary and to communicate closely to ensure collaboration between the diplomatic authorities of the two sides.”

ysk1111@korea.kr