Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung attends a press conference at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, 16 July 2025. File Photo by EPA/YONHAP
South Korea’s presidential office on Monday denied reports of conflict between the ministries of unification and foreign affairs after the Unification Ministry said it would not attend an upcoming regular South Korea-U.S. consultation on North Korea policy coordination.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters at the presidential office in Seoul that even if there are “slightly different opinions,” it is “difficult to describe the situation as conflict at this point.”
Kang said the government is exploring “various methods” to open channels for dialogue with North Korea, adding that the process remains “frustrating” as efforts to establish communication continue.
The Unification Ministry earlier said it would not participate in the Dec. 16 consultation led by the Foreign Ministry because the meeting with the U.S. side concerns follow-up discussions tied to a “joint fact sheet,” rather than broader talks on current diplomatic issues between Seoul and Washington.
The ministry said it would hold separate consultations with the United States if needed and maintained that it remains in close coordination with relevant ministries and the U.S. on North Korea policy.
The Unification Ministry has also expressed concern that the regular consultations could function like the South Korea-U.S. Working Group created in 2018 under the Moon Jae-in administration, which coordinated issues such as North Korean denuclearization but was criticized in South Korea for constraining inter-Korean exchanges.
– Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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