National Intelligence Service "High possibility of North Korea-U.S. talks… May be pursued after next March's South Korea-U.S. exercises" [Comprehensive]

The National Intelligence Service said that a North Korea-U.S. summit meeting in connection with the Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit failed to materialize, but that indications were confirmed that North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un was covertly preparing for a meeting.

It also forecast that the likelihood of a North Korea-U.S. summit being realized is high, and that it could be pursued after next March's South Korea-U.S. joint exercises.

The NIS reported this at the National Assembly Intelligence Committee audit held at the NIS headquarters in Seoul on the 4th, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Seon-won and People Power Party lawmaker Lee Seong-gwon, the committee's ruling and opposition party rapporteurs, said in a briefing.

According to the two lawmakers' briefing, the NIS reported that "the North Korea-U.S. summit meeting occasioned by interest in the APEC summit failed to take place, but various channels have confirmed signs that (North Korea) has prepared for dialogue with the United States," and that "evidence has been found that the U.S. administration's North Korea working-level personnel tendencies have been analyzed."

It also reported, "A subtle change is being detected in North Korea's nuclear-armed state rhetoric (rhetoric). After Kim Jong Un hinted at conditional talks with the United States following the Supreme People's Assembly, he has been refraining from direct remarks about nuclear armament and appears to be moderating the tone of his statements," it said.

It continued, "In particular, it was detected that, given the possibility of dialogue while U.S. President Donald Trump expressed willingness to meet Kim Jong Un during his Asia tour, there was last-minute deliberation about preventing Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui's visits to China and Russia."

The NIS added, "The NIS judges that Kim Jong Un has the will to engage in dialogue with the United States and, if conditions are met in the future, will make contact with the United States."

Regarding future North Korea-U.S. relations, the NIS said, "It assesses that the possibility of a North Korea-U.S. summit is high," and explained, "One piece of evidence is that North Korea has recently accumulated a large amount of information on international and North Korea-related figures inside the United States."

It added, "It is pursuing North Korea-U.S. relations based on closeness with Russia and improvements in North Korea-China relations, and it is expected that a North Korea-U.S. summit may be pursued again after next March's South Korea-U.S. joint exercises."

Lee Bo-bae, guest reporter, Hankyung.com newsinfo@hankyung.com