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Wednesday, June 13, 2018, 22:58
ROK: Need to find ways to help DPRK-US talks proceed
By Xinhua
Wednesday, June 13, 2018, 22:58 By Xinhua

US President Donald Trump and his delegates (right) meet with DPRK leader Kim Jong-un and his delegates at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island, June 12, 2018, in Singapore. (EVAN VUCCI / AP)

SEOUL – The presidential Blue House of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said Wednesday it needs to find ways to ensure the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington go on smoothly after US President Donald Trump announced the halt of ROK-US war games. 

Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for ROK President Moon Jae-in, said at a press briefing that Seoul first needs clarity about the meaning and the intention of Trump’s announcement.

ROK President Moon Jae-in has planned to hold a National Security Council meeting Thursday to assess the outcome of the Trump-Kim summit and discuss ways to help implement the agreements reached by them

He however said during the period when the democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the US proceed with an earnest dialogue on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and establishing bilateral relations, it needs to come up with various ways to advance such dialogue more smoothly.

READ MORE: Kim, Trump agree on denuclearization at historic summit

The Blue House's statement came a day after Trump announced at a press conference in Singapore that he would stop the US joint annual military exercises with the ROK, which he called "provocative" and "expensive."

Trump said it would be inappropriate to stage war games on the peninsula as Pyongyang and Washington reached a comprehensive deal. 

Trump and DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un signed a joint statement after holding a historic summit in Singapore Tuesday, agreeing to complete denuclearization in return for security guarantees. 

The two leaders also agreed to set up new DPRK-US relations in accordance with the desire of people of the two countries for peace and prosperity. 

ALSO READ: China welcomes DPRK-US summit achievements

The joint annual ROK-US military exercises have been carried out twice – in spring and the fall. This year's springtime war games were conducted in April, delayed for the ROK-hosted Winter Olympics. The autumn military drills are scheduled to be held in August this year. 

President Moon, meanwhile, has planned to hold a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday to assess the outcome of the Trump-Kim summit and discuss ways to help implement the agreements reached by the DPRK and US leaders.

POMPEO TO VISIT ROK

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to arrive in the ROK late Wednesday to meet ROK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, according to Seoul's foreign ministry and local media.

After Tuesday’s summit, Trump said he would send Pompeo to the ROK to explain the outcome of the meeting to the ROK side. 

Pompeo and Kang will hold a bilateral meeting and also a trilateral meeting along with their Japanese counterpart in Seoul Thursday. They will hold a joint press conference later.

It will mark the first official visit by the top US diplomat to the ROK since he took office in April.

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