South Korea and the United States launched their first consultative meeting on North Korea policy in Seoul on Tuesday. The session, led by the foreign ministry, marks the inaugural bilateral mechanism under the Lee Jae Myung administration, though the unification ministry has opted out amid ongoing inter-ministry tensions. The allies aim to resume dialogue with Pyongyang despite its repeated rejections.
On Tuesday, South Korea and the United States held the inaugural meeting of a new consultative body on North Korea policy at the foreign ministry headquarters in Seoul. The session was led by Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence at the foreign ministry, and Kevin Kim, acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, with defense officials from both nations in attendance. Formally known as the Follow-up Discussions on the South Korea-U.S. Joint Fact Sheet, it is the first such bilateral mechanism launched under the Lee Jae Myung government, which took office in June 2025.
The body follows up on commitments from the October 29 Lee-Trump summit in Gyeongju, covering security, trade, and North Korea-related issues. Seoul aims to yield tangible results in its North Korea policy next year and establish regular dialogue channels to reengage the reclusive state, despite Pyongyang's unresponsiveness to overtures.
However, the unification ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, announced a day earlier it would not participate, opting for separate coordination with Washington. An anonymous unification ministry official stated, "We are in frequent communication with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on North Korea policy, and we can also engage with the State Department when necessary." The official added, "We have a common objective of achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula. While approaches may differ at times, we ultimately aim for a unified policy."
The ministry views North Korea policy as a sovereignty matter and insists on leading consultations with allies. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized at a press conference last week that his ministry should be Washington's primary counterpart. This stance stems from concerns over past precedents, like the 2018-2021 bilateral working group under the Moon Jae-in administration, which was criticized for prioritizing sanctions compliance and hindering peace efforts toward Pyongyang.
The foreign ministry proceeded, citing the diplomatic focus of the talks. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac acknowledged the friction, saying, "I am aware of those concerns. We are holding extensive discussions at the NSC and coordinating our approach. We will work to ensure the government speaks with a unified voice." The dispute highlights the challenge of balancing diplomatic and unification perspectives in Seoul's North Korea strategy.
