▲ This undated file photo shows Michael DeSombre, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. (Yonhap)

US diplomat-S Korea visit

Top U.S. diplomat for East Asia to visit S. Korea this week

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia policy will visit South Korea later this week for talks with Seoul officials on key alliance and other issues, including North Korea, a foreign ministry official said Monday.

Michael DeSombre, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, will make a five-day trip to Seoul starting Wednesday, the ministry official said.

During his visit, DeSombre plans to hold a series of meetings with foreign ministry officials, including Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister in charge of North Korea issues; Chung Eui-hae, deputy minister for political affairs; and Park Jong-han, deputy minister for economic affairs.

His visit comes as the implementation of the allies' summit agreements on trade and security remains stalled amid relevant legislative delays in Seoul and the widening conflict in the Middle East sparked by U.S. strikes against Iran.

The ministry official said, however, DeSombre's visit is unlikely to focus primarily on the summit agreements, but will instead likely involve broader discussions on the alliance, including economic cooperation and issues related to the Korean Peninsula.

The trip also comes after Pyongyang left open the possibility of resuming dialogue with Washington at a recent party congress, on condition that the U.S. withdraws its hostile policy against the reclusive regime.

Speculation remains that U.S. President Donald Trump could seek to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when he visits China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reportedly from late March to early April.

The North, however, maintained its hostile approach toward Seoul, making it clear it has no intention of restoring inter-Korean ties and calling the Lee Jae Myung government's olive branch to Pyongyang "deceptive."

Separately, David Wilezol, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Northeast Asia, is visiting Seoul from Monday through Wednesday.

Wilezol plans to meet with Chung, the deputy foreign minister, as well as director generals responsible for North America, bilateral economic affairs and North Korea policy.

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