북미회담 분위기 조성...고위급회담 내주 개최될까
All eyes are on when the high-level talks between North Korea and the U.S. will take place,... after it was abruptly cancelled earlier this month.
The timing of the next summit between the leaders of both sides, hinges on this meeting.
Washington has been sending signals to bring the regime back to the negotiating table.
Park Hee-jun gets us up to speed with the developments. The U.S. has repeatedly made clear, its hopes to hold a second summit with North Korea early next year.
The two sides were originally set to hold high-level talks on November 8th, just after the U.S. midterm elections,... to discuss the details of the summit as well as the North's denuclearization.
But it was postponed at Pyeongyang's request,... citing a lack of preparations.
Numerous reports, quoting diplomatic sources, say Washington has been pushing to meet in New York early next week,... taking into account President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's departure for the G20 summit on the 30th.
The U.S. has been sending signs to bring North Korea to the negotiating table.
It has expressed support for the joint study of the inter-Korean railway project, which requires a workaround to sanctions on the North.
Defense Secretary James Mattis also recently announced plans to scale down the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise 'Foul Eagle' scheduled for next spring.
Should the North return to the nuclear talks, it would have to face the demands of an inventory of its nuclear capabilities and the shut down of its key nuclear facilities,... which the regime has been putting off until the sanctions are lifted.
But the ball is now in North Korea's court.
It is unclear when it will respond to Washington's invitation, but time is running short to prepare for the next North Korea-U.S. summit.
A positive response will not only mean a green light for the Kim-Trump summit, but also for Chairman Kim's proposed visit to Seoul.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
