Allies expected to hold another round of 'working-group' talks on N. Korea this month

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States are expected to hold another round of their "working-group" talks to coordinate their policies on North Korea this month, an official at Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The allies held a working-level videoconference last Friday after launching the working group on Nov. 20 for "regular, systemic and formal" communication on North Korea policy, amid speculation about a possible split between them on approaches toward Pyongyang.

"We anticipate that another working-group session may occur within this year," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. He did not elaborate on details about the possible meeting.

The working group is co-headed by Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Stephen Biegun, Washington's special representative for North Korea at the State Department.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)