South Korea says U.S. follow-up talks on summit fact sheet differ

Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that follow-up consultations with the United States on a joint fact sheet issued after a bilateral summit are different in purpose and nature from the working group format used in the past, amid domestic concerns the talks could revive a controversial mechanism.

A senior Foreign Ministry official told reporters the government has maintained communication with U.S. diplomatic authorities at all levels on Korean Peninsula issues, including North Korea's nuclear program.

The official said the follow-up consultation was pursued to strengthen coordination on implementing Korean Peninsula-related items outlined in the joint fact sheet, emphasizing that joint efforts by Seoul and Washington to open a path to dialogue with North Korea are especially important under a more difficult geopolitical environment than in the past.

The ministry said the two sides exchanged views on the regional security environment and shared assessments and analysis during the meeting. The official said both sides "clearly recognized" the consultation, aimed at implementing the fact sheet, was entirely different in purpose, nature and background from previous working groups.

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The ministry's comments followed criticism from former unification ministers, who issued a statement warning the meeting could become a second working group. South Korea's Unification Ministry announced it would not participate, fueling signs of discord within the government and prompting the Foreign Ministry to clarify its position.

The follow-up consultation was held the previous day and lasted more than three hours, according to the official.

The official said the meeting allowed both governments to reaffirm the importance of carrying out the fact sheet and to share concerns and views on how to "open the door" to dialogue with North Korea, adding that constructive discussions were held on a range of issues.

- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI.

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