South Korea's incoming president Yoon meets visiting US envoy on North Korea

South Korea and the US seek to coordinate North Korea policy under president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's new government. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

SEOUL (REUTERS) - South Korea’s president-elect, Yoon Suk-yeol, has met the visiting US envoy for North Korea, an official in Yoon’s transition team said on Wednesday (April 20), as both sides seek to coordinate North Korea policy under Seoul's new government.

US Special Representative Sung Kim arrived in Seoul on Monday for a five-day stay that has included talks with the outgoing president, Moon Jae-in, and officials on Mr Yoon's transition team.

The visit comes after North Korea restarted tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles, breaking a self-imposed 2017 moratorium, and has shown signs that it may be preparing to resume nuclear testing.

Mr Yoon will head a conservative administration and he has already signalled a tougher approach towards North Korea after efforts by the liberal Mr Moon to improve ties failed to make headway.

Yoon and the US envoy met on Tuesday evening for dinner, their first encounter since Yoon won an election last month.

“It was a friendly get-together, not intended to discuss serious policy issues such as the North’s nuclear programme,” said the source in Yoon’s transition team who declined to be identified, citing diplomatic sensitivity.

Mr Yoon's spokeswoman had initially said no formal meeting was scheduled between Mr Yoon and Mr Kim.

Mr Kim's visit came after North Korea restarted tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles, breaking a self-imposed 2017 moratorium, and has shown signs that it may be preparing to resume nuclear testing.

South Korean and US troops began their annual joint military exercises this week, which Pyongyang denounced as rehearsals for war.

Mr Yoon's foreign minister nominee, Mr Park Jin, separately met Mr Kim on Wednesday, during which Mr Park had said they would explore ways to step up cooperation over the North's missile launches and potential nuclear tests.

Mr Park also said he hoped for an early summit between Mr Yoon and US President Joe Biden, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.

Mr Kim said after talks with Seoul officials on Monday that the allies would maintain the "strongest possible joint deterrent" and respond "responsibly and decisively" to North Korea's "provocative behaviour".

Mr Kim has repeatedly offered to meet without any preconditions, but Pyongyang has so far brushed off those overtures, accusing Washington of maintaining hostile policy including sanctions and military drills.

The United States has some 28,000 troops in South Korea.

South Korean and US troops began annual joint military exercises this week. North Korea routinely denounces such drills as preparations for war on it.

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