Wi Sung-lac, director of the National Security Office, briefs reporters at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. [Yonhap]
Wi Sung-lac, director of the National Security Office, briefs reporters at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. [Yonhap]

Wi Sung-lac, director of the National Security Office, met Friday with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who visited South Korea after a trip to North Korea, and received a briefing on the outcome of the North Korea visit, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release that evening that Wi and Cassis "exchanged views on the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula," and went on to say that Wi "appreciated Switzerland's efforts to maintain and expand its communication channels with North Korea."

"Both sides agreed on the importance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the need for dialogue and diplomatic efforts toward that end, and agreed to continue close communication on related issues going forward," Cheong Wa Dae added.

Cassis arrived in North Korea on Thursday and held talks Friday with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

Cassis said on X on Friday that the meeting with Choe covered "the reopening of the diplomatic office, the normalization of political relations, and ways to resume political dialogue."

Cassis added that the two sides also exchanged views on security issues on the Korean Peninsula and in the Eurasian region.

In a separate post, Cassis said he met with Jo Yong-won, secretary of the Korean Workers' Party, and that Jo "welcomed the reopening of the Swiss diplomatic office" and that they discussed "the latest developments in North Korea and the possibility of strengthening bilateral relations."


sang@heraldcorp.com