S. Korea could propose reconvening canceled talks with N. Korea: official

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea could propose reconvening the high-level talks with North Korea that were unilaterally called off at the last minute by the communist nation last week, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Thursday.

The two Koreas had planned to hold the talks on May 16 to discuss follow-up measures after their historic summit on April 27. But Pyongyang called off the talks just hours before the meeting, citing joint air exercises between South Korea and the United States as the reason.

A key official at Cheong Wa Dae said that the South has not suggested a date for resuming the canceled talks yet, but the official also said the South could consider making such a proposal.

"We're able to contact (the North) again, aren't we?" the official said.

Earlier this week in Washington, President Moon Jae-in said he anticipates resumption of inter-Korean talks after the Max Thunder air exercises end Friday.

Asked when the hotline between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could be used, the Cheong Wae Dae official said he has no idea.

"No decision has been made yet," the official said.

The official also declined to comment on a statement from one of the North's vice foreign ministers that the country could reconsider the upcoming summit between U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying only he's taking the statement "cautiously."

Still, the official said the Trump-Kim summit is expected to be held as scheduled on June 12.

Moon's chief security advisor, Chung Eui-yong, said during a trip to Washington that he is 99.9 percent sure that the meeting will take place as scheduled.
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