S. Korea, U.S. in close consultations on N. Korea contact: Cheong Wa Dae

SEOUL, Oct 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States have maintained close coordination on North Korea, either in responding to its provocations or in exploring dialogue, although Pyongyang has shown no interest in talks, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.

There have been concerns that Seoul may be sidelined in dealing with the North Korea issue despite the Moon Jae-in administration's pursuit of taking the "driver's seat."

On a visit to Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told media that Washington is in contact with Pyongyang.

"We can talk to (the North Koreans); we do talk to them directly, through our own channels," he said, adding the U.S. has "a couple, three channels open to Pyongyang."

The channels apparently include the North's diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York, which is called the New York Channel.

Cheong Wa Dae, the South's presidential office, stressed that the government has supported efforts for a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue.

"Our government has stated that dialogue can be pursued in multiple formats, including North Korea-U.S. and South Korea-North Korea bilateral talks and multilateral ones," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun said in a text message to reporters.

Both South Korea and the U.S. have the principle that "maximum sanctions and pressure" are needed to change the North's course and bring it to the bargaining table, he added.

The two sides are closely consulting with each other on the matter, he said.

In Washington, the State Department's spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, "U.S. diplomats have several open channels in which we can communicate with officials within the North Korean regime."

Still, North Koreans have shown no indication that they are interested in or ready for denuclearization talks, she said.

lcd@yna.co.kr
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