Seoul, Dec 12 (NationPress) South Korea and the United States are poised to initiate a regular consultative meeting as soon as next week, aimed at enhancing their collaborative efforts on North Korea policy, according to diplomatic sources on Friday. This step is part of the allies' ongoing exploration of avenues to re-engage Pyongyang.

Officials in both Seoul and Washington are working to arrange for Jeong Yeon-doo, the Vice Minister for Intelligence and issues related to North Korea's nuclear program at the foreign ministry, along with acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim, to kick off the regular consultative meeting next week, as reported by the Yonhap News Agency.

The tentative date for this meeting is set for next Tuesday, although final confirmation is still pending.

According to reports, Seoul and Washington have come to an agreement on the necessity of establishing such a regular communication channel to facilitate timely discussions on matters pertaining to North Korea. Given the current climate, a closely coordinated policy stance is more crucial than ever, as both nations seek to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang.

Once established, the meeting will likely concentrate on refining the pace and trajectory of the allies' policy concerning North Korea, particularly as the Lee Jae Myung administration prepares for comprehensive peace-making initiatives directed at North Korea commencing next year.

On December 9, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul indicated that discussions are underway for a regular meeting to coordinate the allied approach to North Korea.

Spokesperson Park Il made these comments during a routine press briefing, noting that working-level talks have been ongoing for months to finalize the specifics of the proposed meeting.

“Through this meeting, we aim to address the overall policy toward North Korea, which includes strategies to bring the North back to the dialogue table,” stated Park.

Seoul and Washington are reported to have reached a mutual understanding regarding the necessity for such a communication channel to enable timely discussions on North Korea-related topics. However, officials have clarified that the two sides are not contemplating the establishment of a permanent consultative body.

This initiative aligns with the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to repair strained relations with North Korea and to revive dialogue, despite Pyongyang's ongoing silence in response to Seoul's peace overtures.

US President Donald Trump has indicated a desire to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to revitalize stalled diplomatic efforts.

Acting US Ambassador Kim reiterated on Monday that the goal of “complete denuclearization” of North Korea remains a shared policy with South Korea, even after this phrase was noticeably absent from a recent US security strategy document.