U.S. diplomat sees 'better' chance to review N.K.'s sincerity for denuclearization

SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- A senior U.S. diplomat said Monday the U.S. has "a better opportunity" to check if Pyongyang is serious about denuclearization as the two sides prepare for a historic summit.

Susan Thornton, acting U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, made the remarks after North Korea announced Saturday that it will stop nuclear and long-range missile tests and shut down its atomic test site.

"I think we've got a better opportunity than we've had in recent years to try to see if they are serious. We're gonna try to explore that in these upcoming meetings," Thornton told Yonhap News Agency after meeting with Seoul's vice unification minister.

"We very much hope that there's gonna be an opening here, so we'll see what we can get done at these upcoming sessions," she said.

Her visit came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to hold a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday and to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in May or June. She arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a three-day visit.

Earlier in the day, Thornton met with Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung in Seoul.

Thornton said the U.S. and South Korea are "in lockstep" on coordination in preparing for those meetings.

As for North Korea's call for "phased and synchronized measures" for denuclearization, Thornton raised the need to review more details.

"I think we'll have to explore details about denuclearization ... It will be very complicated, I'm sure. But we'll see how it goes," she added.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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