Seoul: The unification ministry has announced it will not partake in the forthcoming regular consultative talks between Seoul and Washington, set to launch this week, concerning North Korea policy. Instead, the ministry will pursue independent cooperation with Washington on North Korean matters as necessary.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision was made public through a press release, highlighting a departure from Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's earlier statements suggesting the ministry was contemplating participation in the talks. The meeting, expected to commence as early as Tuesday, will be led by Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for intelligence and North Korea's nuclear issues at the foreign ministry, alongside acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim. The talks aim to refine the approach to North Korea policy amidst ongoing efforts to engage Pyongyang on its nuclear activities.

The unification ministry noted that the latest meeting, overseen by the foreign ministry and the U.S., involves discussions following a joint fact sheet and pertains primarily to diplomatic matters. Last month, Seoul and Washington issued a joint fact sheet detailing trade and security agreements concluded during the Lee-Trump summit in Gyeongju on October 29.

The ministry stated it would engage in separate consultations with the United States for discussions on North Korea-related issues, such as inter-Korean dialogue or cooperation, when deemed necessary. Minister Chung mentioned that deliberations on participation were ongoing and a decision would be made after careful examination of the details.

The unification ministry reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close collaboration with relevant government entities and the U.S. concerning North Korea policy. Last week, Chung emphasized at a press conference that shaping Korean Peninsula and North Korea policies is a sovereign matter, asserting that the unification ministry should be the primary interlocutor when consulting allies on these issues.