South Korean presidential aide secretly visits the US.
(Baonghean.vn) - Yonhap News Agency, citing an official in the South Korean presidential office (Blue House) on May 4th, reported that the country's senior security advisor is currently in the United States. Accordingly, this individual will participate in discussions with Washington regarding the upcoming summit between the US President and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
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| Chung Eui-yong during a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photo: Blue House. |
Chung Eui-yong, head of the South Korean president's National Security Office, departed for Washington on May 3 at the request of the White House National Security Council, an unnamed Blue House official told reporters.
"The White House National Security Council requested that Mr. Chung make the visit to discuss the North Korea-U.S. summit," the official said, adding that the U.S. side had asked the South Korean official not to disclose details of the trip to the U.S.
"It's unclear whether he will visit the White House," the unnamed official said.
The White House has not yet responded to a request by South Korean news agency Yonhap to confirm Kim's visit.
The trip, if confirmed, would be the third known visit by a South Korean official to Washington since John Bolton took office as US National Security Advisor last month.
This visit comes ahead of a summit between US and North Korean leaders, likely to be held in late May or early June.
The summit will be closely watched after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed during their meeting on April 27 to pursue the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula.
For his part, President Trump affirmed that he would participate in negotiations aimed at eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons.
Details regarding the time and location of the first summit between the US and North Korea are expected to be announced in the coming days, after Trump hinted at the possibility of meeting Kim in the Demilitarized Zone separating South Korea and North Korea.
Earlier in March, Chung had traveled to Washington after meeting with Kim in Pyongyang to convey the North Korean leader's desire to meet with Trump and his willingness to discuss denuclearization.
Trump and Kim exchanged numerous threats and personal attacks last year, as North Korea tested nuclear weapons and developed ballistic missile programs.
