America's top diplomat says he's going back to Pyongyang to continue negotiations on the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
Mike Pompeo has also announced his new special representative for North Korea.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to make his fourth visit of the year to North Korea.
He says he's flying there next week to press ahead with talks on getting the regime to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
During his first two trips to the North as Secretary of State,... Pompeo met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to lay the groundwork for the first-ever summit between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea.
His third trip was a follow-up to the Singapore summit that took place in June.
At a press briefing at the State Department on Thursday,... Pompeo also announced the appointment of a key North Korea-related official.
"I am excited to announce this morning that Steve Biegun is joining our team as the Special Representative for North Korea."
Pompeo said Biegen will "direct U.S. policy towards North Korea",... while leading efforts "to achieve President Trump's goal of the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea",... adding the two will travel to Pyongyang together.
Pompeo however, did not disclose the exact date of their trip.
Biegen worked on the White House National Security Council from 2001 to 2003 and fills a position left vacant by the retirement of Joseph Yun in March.
Standing next to Pompeo during the briefing,... Biegen stressed the importance of his job,... adding that the issues will be hard to resolve.
"The issues are tough and they will be tough to resolve. But, the President has created an opening. And it's one that we must take by seizing every possible opportunity to realize the vision for a peaceful future for the people of North Korea."
With the latest appointment,... hopes are rising that the U.S. and North Korea can edge closer to the agreement reached by their two leaders in June.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
