South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok proposed on Friday that the United States send a special envoy to North Korea to improve relations between Washington and Pyongyang during talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The meeting also addressed South Korea's probe into a massive customer data leak at Coupang, with both sides agreeing to manage the issue to avoid misunderstandings. This marks Kim's first overseas trip since becoming prime minister.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a 50-minute discussion at the White House on January 23. As Vance sought advice on North Korean diplomacy, Kim stated, "In reality, only Trump has the will and capability to improve relations (with North Korea)." He proposed that "sending a special envoy to North Korea, whoever that may be, can be an approach to express an intent to enhance relations (with the North)." Kim mentioned having ideas for "optimal" envoy candidates but declined to elaborate, referencing the early 1990s when South Korea suggested former President Jimmy Carter as a special envoy for the North's nuclear issue.
The talks occurred amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump might meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his April visit to China. Trump held three in-person summits with Kim during his first term: in Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019, and Panmunjom in June 2019. However, with Pyongyang deepening ties to Moscow and Beijing, it is uncertain if the North will respond to Washington's overtures.
The meeting also covered South Korea's probe into a massive data leak at U.S.-listed Coupang, affecting about 33.7 million customers, though the company claims access was limited to around 3,000 accounts. It followed notifications from two U.S. investors on Thursday of their intent to file arbitration claims against Seoul for "discriminatory" acts and a request for a U.S. government investigation. Vance urged that the issue be managed to avoid "misunderstandings" between the governments. Kim agreed, pledging quick clarifications on any false information, and stressed there has been no discriminatory treatment of U.S. businesses. He rejected claims that he urged regulators in December to enforce against Coupang "with the same determination used to wipe out mafias," providing Vance with an English version of a Thursday press release dismissing it. "Relations between South Korea and the U.S. are firm enough not to be swayed by a particular company's lobbying," Kim said.
Kim and Vance agreed to maintain a "hotline" for enhanced communication, and Kim extended an official invitation for Vance to visit Seoul. The meeting was on the second day of Kim's five-day U.S. trip, his first abroad as prime minister and the first standalone U.S. visit by a South Korean premier since democratization in the late 1980s.
