| Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a ruling Democratic Party of Korea seminar on the prospects of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the role of the National Assembly, Thursday, after the breakdown of a second summit between North Korea and the U.S. Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for continued dialogue with North Korea for a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue, Thursday.
Speaking to lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Kang said the country should pursue the end goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula persistently, despite the disappointing outcome from a second summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders in Hanoi.
“It is an important task for the country to peacefully resolve the North Korea nuclear issue through dialogue. The government will do its best to achieve complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and establish peace,” Kang said in a keynote speech at a seminar.
The DPK hosted the seminar to discuss the prospects of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the role of the National Assembly to support the two Koreas' efforts to promote peace.
“I ask the Assembly to push for implementing government policies on North Korea and peace, here and overseas.”
Her remarks came after the ruling camp went all-out to support President Moon Jae-in's drive to mediate between the North and U.S. to resume their talks in a move to handle the breakdown of the Hanoi summit amid escalating conflict between Pyongyang and Washington over the alleged rebuilding of a missile test facility in the North.
“I believe the North Korea-U.S. negotiations will end in an agreement, but I ask you to work for an early resumption of working-level talks between the two because we do not want the stalemate to be prolonged,” President Moon said in a National Security Council meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday.
She stayed silent over whether she and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed their differences regarding the resumption of tour programs to Mount Geumgang in North Korea during a phone call between the two. She simply said, “Pompeo explained the breakdown right after the summit.”
Kang also said that she and Pompeo didn't talk about the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.