U.S. NUKE ENVOY HOPES FOR ‘POSITIVE RESPONSE’ FROM NOKOR ON TALKS

The new US special representative for North Korea said Monday he looks forward to Pyongyang giving a "positive response soon" to Washington's dialogue offer, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent remarks that Pyongyang should be ready for both dialogue and confrontation.

Ambassador Sung Kim made the remarks during a meeting with Seoul's top nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, in Seoul, saying Washington will also be prepared for either dialogue or confrontation, Song Sang-ho and Kim Seung-yeon reported for the South Korean news agency Yonhap early on June 21.

Kim, who doubles as ambassador to Indonesia, is accompanied by Deputy Special Representative Jung Pak and a representative of the National Security Council. Kim arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a five-day visit.

"We will be prepared for either, because you know, we are still waiting to hear back from Pyongyang ... proposal for a meeting," he said. "Hopefully, Chairman Kim's reference to dialogue indicates that we will get a positive response soon."

After the talks, the US envoy reaffirmed the two countries' shared commitment to pursuing the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through diplomacy and dialogue.

"I also reiterated our support for meaningful inter-Korean dialogue, cooperation and engagement as our two leaders did in Washington, when President Moon visited Washington," he said, referring to the May 21 summit.

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