美국무부, '김정은 곧 협상 복귀하냐' 질문에 "여전히 낙관적"
And as that summit between the allies draws closer, the two sides top diplomats will be meeting in Washington in about 24 hours.
U.S. officials are sounding positive overall about North Korea, saying that China is basically on board as well.
Kim Mok-yeon reports.
The United States says that it is positive about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un returning to the negotiating table for talks on denuclearization.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the U.S State Department's deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino reaffirmed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's words that Washington is still optimistic, adding that diplomacy with North Korea will continue to move forward.
Palladino also touched upon U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun's latest visit to China, confirming that Washington and Beijing are engaging in regular discussions on North Korea, as they share the same goal of a final, fully verified denuclearization of the regime.
When asked whether Biegun came into contact with any North Korean official during his visit, Palladino stopped short of saying that Washington and Pyeongyang are still negotiating, and didn't provide any details.
Regarding concerns over the possibility that Beijing could backslide from sanctions enforcement, he stressed that China's enforcement has been very helpful but added that there is still room for China to contribute more.
Meanwhile, South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha has left for Washington to meet her counterpart Mike Pompeo on Friday afternoon local time, for their first face-to-face since the Hanoi summit broke down last month.
The two are expected to share their perspectives on the issue, as well as
inter-Korean cooperation and sanctions enforcement.
South Korea's top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon, who also left for Washington, is slated to meet with Biegun after the foreign ministerial talks
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
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