DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name….reports Asian Lite News
Senior officials from South Korea and the US held talks on ways to restart dialogue with North Korea, the State Department said.
US Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Jung Pak hosted a “deputy-level consultation meeting” with her South Korean counterpart, Rim Kap-soo, according to the Department.
“The two sides discussed the current situation on the Korean Peninsula; prospects for humanitarian cooperation; and the potential for dialogue with the DPRK,” Yonhap News Agency quoted the Department as saying.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name.
The meeting comes after Kim said the countries will continue to discuss ways to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table, including an end of war declaration proposed by Seoul.
Kim made the remarks after a Seoul meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, on October 24.
South Korea believes that declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War could work as a catalyst to resume dialogue with Pyongyang.
North Korea currently remains unresponsive to .S overtures for dialogue. It has also stayed away from denuclearization negotiations since 2019.
This meeting further demonstrated the shared commitment between the US and the Republic of Korea to advance our common goal of achieving complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula,” said the press release, referring to South Korea by its official name.
Monday’s meeting was also attended by officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification and the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, as well as officials from the US National Security Council and the Treasury and Defense Departments, it added.
N.Korea urged to accept proposed Papal visit
The South Korean government on Monday urged North Korea to respond positively to a suggestion of a Papal visit to Pyongyang, expressing hope for progress in efforts to promote regional peace.
The Unification Ministry’s statement came after Pope Francis reaffirmed his willingness to visit the North during his meeting with President Moon Jae-in at the Vatican last week, reports Yonhap News Agency.
Moon and the Pope met on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome, during which the President said a Papal visit to Pyongyang would foster peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The Pope said he was willing to visit the North if he received an invitation, according to the Presidential Office or Cheong Wa Dae.
“As the pope’s willingness to visit North Korea has been reaffirmed, we hope the North would respond and pave the way for fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Unification Ministry spokesperson Lee Jong-joo told a press briefing.
Moon and Pope Francis last met in 2018 when the President made a state visit to Italy.
At the time, Moon delivered a verbal invitation to the pope from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but a Papal visit failed to materialise amid a deadlock in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
