U.S. envoy arrives in Seoul for talks over North Korea’s increased missile launches

The U.S. envoy for North Korea arrived in Seoul on Monday for talks with his South Korean counterparts on strategies to handle Pyongyang‘s increased missile launches and considerations over the that it’s most likely you’ll perchance presumably imagine resumption of nuclear making an strive out.

U.S. Special Representative Sung Kim and his deputy, Jung Pak, will meet with South Korean officers, including nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk, exact through a 5-day lope to.

Their arrival coincided with the commence of a 9-day annual joint protection force drill by U.S. and South Korean troops. The dispute is a “defensive uncover put up practising the use of laptop simulation” and can no longer involve field maneuvers by troops, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Workers stated on Sunday.

North Korea has condemned the joint drills as rehearsals for war, and they’ve been scaled again in most modern years amid efforts to place Pyongyang in diplomacy, and as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

On Saturday North Korea test fired what say media stated had been missiles concerned about handing over tactical nuclear weapons.

On arrival, Kim told journalists he used to be in Seoul to proceed “shut coordination” on North Korea trends, Yonhap news company reported, without elaborating.

He has stated he’s initiating to talks with North Korea at any time and without preconditions, but Pyongyang has thus far rebuffed these overtures, accusing Washington of asserting antagonistic policies corresponding to sanctions and the protection force drills.

South Korean media reported that Kim used to be furthermore anticipated to meet with the transition group for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who takes office in Would possibly perchance well furthermore.

A spokesperson for the group stated there used to be no meeting confirmed between Yoon and Kim, and can indirectly verify whether or no longer the envoy would perchance perchance be meeting other transition officers.

(Reporting by Josh Smith; Extra reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Michael Perry)