Top security advisers of S. Korea, U.S., Japan meet over N. Korea: Cheong Wa Dae

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Chung Eui-yong, top security adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, traveled to the United States over the weekend to hold talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts on the upcoming dialogue with North Korea, Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.

The three-way talks were held in San Francisco, involving U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and Japan's Shotaro Yachi, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters.

The three "held consultations on the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the South-North Korea, U.S.-North Korea summits," he said.

"The participants agreed on the importance of not repeating the countries' past failures and agreed to continue closely working together over the next few weeks."

It marked Chung's second trip to the United States following his rare visit to the communist North as a special envoy of the South Korean president.

While visiting Pyongyang on March 5-6, the head of Seoul's National Security Office held unprecedented talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who offered to hold an inter-Korean summit late next month.

Kim also proposed holding what would be the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit.

U.S. President Donald Trump accepted the offer when Chung earlier told him of it. The U.S.-North Korea summit is expected to be held in May.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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