Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (R) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in their meeting on February 14, 2019 (Photo: Yonhap) Hanoi (VNA) – The top diplomats of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and theUS had phone talks on March 1, discussing the results of the second summitbetween US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un which ended inHanoi a day earlier without an agreement.
Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said that although the US and the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) did not reach an agreement, it is stillmeaningful that Washington keeps trying to engage in dialogue with Pyongyangwith patience, according to the RoK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kang added that the RoK wants to maintain close communication with the US onthe issue.
For his part, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo laid stress on closecooperation between Washington and Seoul, affirming that the US will continuehaving talks with the DPRK.
The ministry said that Kang and Pompeoagreed to meet in the near future and share their plans after the DPRK-USAHanoi Summit Vietnam. Both diplomats also reached consensus to have theirnuclear envoys meet to discuss measures in details.
In a separate phone talkthe same day, Pompeo and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono exchanged views onhow to advance negotiations with the DPRK on denuclearisation and the return ofJapanese nationals abducted decades ago.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that in a 20-minute phone call, Pompeo briefedKono about President Trump’s summit with DPRK leader Kim in Hanoi.
They agreed to continue to closely cooperate with the RoK, according to theministry.
The DPRK-USA summit in Hanoi ended on February 28 without an agreement. But atthe summit, DPRK leader Kim recommended indefinite halt of nuclear and missiletests in exchange for reduction of economic sanctions from the US. This is a positive outcome of the summit, helpingmaintain détente on the Korean Peninsula and the region.–VNA
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