Seoul, Washington, Tokyo to continue joint nuclear efforts

(From Top) South Korean's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs Lee Do-hoon, the Japanese foreign ministry's director general of Asia and Oceania affairs Kenji Kanasugi, and the United States top nuclear envoy Stephen Biegun. Yonhap, AFP-Yonhap

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States met in Washington Wednesday and agreed to continue close coordination on North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Lee Do-hoon, South Korean's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, held talks with his American counterpart, Stephen Biegun, in the wake of last week's second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The leaders met in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Feb. 27 and 28 but failed to reach an agreement on dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program.

South Korea is keen to ensure momentum in U.S.-North Korea talks to achieve its ultimate goal of lasting peace on the peninsula.

"The U.S. side provided a more detailed explanation of the outcome of the second North Korea-U.S. summit, South Korea and the U.S. compared notes on the summit and held talks on the next steps," the ministry said in a press release.

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In particular the sides "shared the view that the current period following the summit is a very sensitive time in terms of future progress in North-U.S. talks, and agreed to continue close coordination on our cooperation with North Korea," it said.

While noting that the allies have had close coordination at all levels, from top negotiator to foreign minister to president, they pledged to maintain communication and consultations.

Following their meeting, the envoys sat down for a working lunch with their Japanese counterpart, Kenji Kanasugi, the ministry said.

The State Department released a statement that the three men discussed "continued, coordinated efforts to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK."

DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)

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