US repeats call for N. Korea's "final and fully verified denuclearization" ahead of Biegun's SK visi

[soryang]

US repeats call for N. Korea’s “final and fully verified denuclearization” ahead of Biegun’s S. Korea visit
Posted on : Jul.7,2020 16:44 KST Modified on : Jul.7,2020 16:44 KST

Shortly before a senior American diplomat’s visit to South Korea on July 7-9, the US State Department repeated its call for North Korea’s “final and fully verified denuclearization.” The US’ reconfirmation of its longstanding demand for the North’s complete denuclearization came as attention focused on what message Stephen Biegun would bring the North during his time in Seoul.

“Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Stephen E. Biegun will travel to Seoul and Tokyo July 7-10, to meet with officials in the Republic of Korea and Japan to continue close allied cooperation on a range of bilateral and global issues and further strengthen coordination on the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK [North Korea],” the office of the spokesperson of the US State Department said in a statement released on July 6.

Following his three-day trip to South Korea, Biegun is planning to continue on to Japan. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young, and Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will meet with Biegun to deliberate how the two countries can work together to achieve meaningful progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace there...

more:

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/952618.html

Beigun was shunted aside at Hanoi by Bolton and Pompeo and the talks collapsed. Anyone who followed Biegun's public statements suggesting negotiating flexibility, intended to sweet talk the North to come to Hanoi knows that he has little leverage or credibility at this point. His public statements now reflect the Pompeo hardline formulation. I'm surprised he didn't quit, but he did enough for the administration's grandstanding to get a promotion which softened the blow. It's interesting that despite her public statement in the English language version of KCNA media rejecting talks, that Choi Son-hui is back in the dialogue. She is a close advisor to Kim Jong-un on US affairs. I will never forget her chasing Trump down the hallway in Hanoi trying to get him not to leave the summit. Fool me once, shame on me....