'Closely monitoring' possible link to North Korea-US summit

Related ministries still consulting on DMZ mine blast follow-up

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un [Yonhap]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un [Yonhap]

South Korea's Ministry of Unification said Monday it hopes Kim Jong-un's visit to China will "contribute constructively to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to the resumption of dialogue among neighboring countries."

Ministry spokesperson Yun Min-ho made the remarks at a regular morning briefing, saying the government is "monitoring the impact of Chairman Kim's visit to Dandong on the Korean Peninsula situation and comprehensively analyzing its timing, format and substance."

Asked about differing interpretations of whether the visit was aimed at coordinating positions ahead of a potential North Korea-US summit, Yun said the government "plans to closely watch the situation and fulfill its role accordingly."

Regarding North Korea's letter to the president of the UN Security Council — in which Pyongyang claimed a demilitarized zone mine explosion was a "South Korean fabrication" — Yun said the letter appeared to be "a counter-response to the letter our government sent to the Security Council president not long ago concerning the DMZ mine blast."

He added that the letter appeared to "repeat Pyongyang's existing position on the incident while seeking to justify what it calls its 'border fortification' work."

When asked about follow-up measures, Yun said related ministries "are still consulting on additional steps and will decide based on those consultations."


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