US envoy to visit Seoul to discuss N. Korea policy with partners

Washington, Jun 18 (Sputnik) US Special Representative Sung Kim will visit Seoul this weekend to discuss the outcomes of the United States’ North Korea policy review with South Korean and Japanese government officials, the State Department said in a press release.
“US Special Representative for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ambassador Sung Kim will travel to Seoul, June 19-23,” the release said on Thursday. “Special Representative Kim will also meet with other senior ROK [South Korean] officials and engage members of academia and civil society to discuss the outcomes of the United States’ DPRK policy review.”
Kim will also join a trilateral meeting with South Korean Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Noh Kyu-duk and Japanese Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro.
Kim will be accompanied by Deputy Special Representative Dr. Jung Pak and a representative of the White House National Security Council, the release added.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has outlined Pyongyang’s approach toward the United States, stressing the need for both dialogue and confrontation.
The Biden administration’s North Korea policy review will outline the United States’ approach to denuclearize the Korean peninsula in coordination with Japan and South Korea. Last month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that under the new US policy toward North Korea, Washington would not focus on achieving “a grand bargain.”