Washington: South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok announced on Friday that he proposed the United States send a special envoy to North Korea to improve relations between Washington and Pyongyang during his discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim presented the idea during a 50-minute meeting at the White House, where Vance sought his advice on diplomacy with the North Korean regime. This proposal comes amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump might seek a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during an upcoming visit to China in April.
The discussions also included South Korea's investigation into Coupang Inc., a U.S.-listed company, over a significant customer data leak. Vance requested assurances from Seoul that this issue would not lead to "misunderstandings" between the two governments, as conveyed by Kim.
Kim emphasized the unique capability of President Trump to improve relations with North Korea and suggested the dispatch of a special envoy as a gesture to enhance bilateral ties. Although he refrained from naming potential candidates, Kim referenced a historical precedent when former President Jimmy Carter was proposed as a special envoy to Pyongyang in the early 1990s.
While Trump has expressed interest in resuming dialogue with North Korea, it remains uncertain if Kim Jong-un will respond positively, given North Korea's increasing cooperation with Moscow and Beijing. During his first term, Trump held three meetings with Kim, including summits in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the inter-Korean border.
The Coupang data leak issue was a significant topic during the Kim-Vance meeting, which followed notifications from two U.S. investors intending to file arbitration claims against South Korea over alleged discriminatory actions towards the e-commerce firm. This has prompted calls for a U.S. government investigation.
Kim assured Vance that the data leak investigation would be handled to prevent misunderstandings between the two nations. He reiterated that there has been no discriminatory treatment of U.S. businesses in South Korea and addressed concerns raised in a document sent to the U.S. Trade Representative, rejecting claims of biased enforcement against Coupang.
Kim and Vance agreed to establish a "hotline" for better communication and Kim extended an invitation for Vance to visit Seoul. The meeting took place during Kim's five-day visit to the U.S., marking his first overseas trip as prime minister and the first standalone visit by a South Korean premier to the U.S. since the late 1980s.