Moon seeks restart of N. Korean dialogue in talks with U.S. negotiators

By Byun Duk-kun

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in apparently sought U.S. concessions in denuclearization talks with North Korea in a series of meetings Thursday with key U.S. nuclear negotiators including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The meeting between Moon and the U.S.' key men in denuclearization talks with North Korea came one day after the South Korea leader arrived here on a two-day visit. He is later scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Moon's trip here came after Trump's second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, held in Hanoi in late February, failed to produce any agreement, triggering a deadlock in the U.S.-North Korea dialogue.

Seoul officials refuse to call the Hanoi meeting a failure, but Moon's hasty visit here possibly signals a gap between the U.S. and North Korea, which are technically at war.

Moon's two-day visit here this week is one of the briefest overseas trips he has taken so far. He is also scheduled to embark on an eight-day trip to three Central Asian countries next week, which makes the visit more unusual.

The U.S. is said to be against offering any rewards to Pyongyang until the communist regime fully denuclearizes, while the North has repeatedly called for the removal of international and U.S. sanctions.

Moon has noted the need for at least a partial removal of sanctions, which he says will encourage the North to accelerate and complete its denuclearization process.

Those meeting the South Korean president Thursday included National Security Adviser John Bolton, who is considered to be the most hawkish when it comes to North Korea.

Moon was also set to meet Vice President Mike Pence before his summit with Trump.

He will head home later in the day.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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