강경화 '영변＋α' 이상 가능성 언급... 북미회담 앞두고 한국정부 기대감 상승
South Korean Foreign Minister's hopes are high that this week's summit will bear fruit for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Kim Mok-yeon tells us more.
"We are hopeful of substantial outcome both on the side of the denuclearization as well on the side of corresponding measures from the U.S."
Speaking to reporters after a disarmament conference in Geneva, Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha said that though there still is a risk in making predictions at this time, she expects the Pyeongyang-Washington talks to bring more substantial results in addition to the North's dismantling of its main nuclear complex at Yongbyeon.
She said that she expects meaningful results from the summit, as in-depth discussions have been made when Washington's special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun visited Pyeongyang.
When asked what Washington's corresponding steps could be if North Korea decides to take specific actions towards denuclearization, she did not reveal the details but said that they could consider various options including the easing of sanctions against the regime.
Kang also quoted U.S. President Donald Trump's recent words that implied there will be more North Korea-U.S. discussions, and said that the upcoming summit will act as a framework that could trigger follow-up discussions.
She added that of the four premises agreed by Kim Jong-un and Trump during their first summit, the first, which is building trust, has already been done through Pyongyang's returning of the remains of American soldiers killed during the Korean War.
The other three, which are improving ties, the peace settlement, and the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula will be at the center of discussions down the road.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
