By Kim Young Shin

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on May 29 that, “As officials from North Korea and the U.S. are meeting to arrange a U.S.-NK summit, the ministry will watch discussions between the two parties up-close and contribute as best we can.”

“To give life to the hard-earned momentum of the conversation, we will pull the utmost efforts concerning diplomacy into the successful holding of a U.S.-NK summit and realize complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula,” said ministry spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk during a regular briefing that day.

Regarding the meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the North’s Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party of Korea Kim Yong Chol, Noh said, “We are well aware that discussions are going on between the North and the U.S. for their summit.”

Regarding the possibility of an early declaration of a formal end to war, Noh said, “We plan to proceed with a declaration of a formal end to war after close discussions with the North and other related countries.”

ysk1111@korea.kr