South Korea admits US ‘discontent’ over military pact agreed with Kim Jong-un
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha makes rare acknowledgement of disagreement with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on North Korea policy
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed “discontent” with an inter-Korean military pact reached during last month’s summit, South Korea’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, in a rare disclosure of disagreement with its US ally.
The two Koreas agreed to halt military drills, set up a no-fly zone near the border and gradually remove landmines and guard posts within the demilitarised zone, among other steps.
The deal was sealed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their third summit in Pyongyang on September 18-20.
During an annual parliamentary audit on Wednesday, an opposition party lawmaker asked Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha if Pompeo had complained about the agreement during a phone call reported earlier by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Kang said in response. “I wouldn’t say he made strong expressions. [It was] discontent, about how he was not briefed sufficiently, and he had a lot of questions within my knowledge.”
Her remarks amounted to a rare confirmation of discord between Seoul and Washington, amid US concerns that inter-Korean relations may be warming too fast relative to negotiations to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear arms programme.