Seoul seeks to break deadlock in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang

A ‘small deal’ that can be turned into a ‘deal that is good enough’ is the best way forward, according to a statement issued by the presidential Blue House

To achieve this, South Korea suggests drawing up a broad ‘road map’ towards denuclearisation, instead of the US’ current ‘all or nothing strategy’

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:56pm, 18 Mar 2019Updated: 9:45pm, 18 Mar 2019

As talks between Washington and Pyongyang on denuclearisation appear to have stalled after last month’s summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended without agreement, South Korea is looking for ways to end the impasse.

A statement issued by Seoul’s presidential Blue House on Monday said the time was now right for the two Koreas to hold further talks – building upon President Moon Jae-in’s policy of rapprochement which saw him meet Kim three times last year.

“We’re in a deep agony over how to take advantage of this baton that has been handed over to us,” said the statement, attributed to a high-ranking official.

“We agree with the view that no deal is better than a bad deal … However, in reality, it is difficult to achieve complete denuclearisation at one stroke. I think we need to reconsider the so-called all or nothing strategy.”

After last month’s summit in Hanoi was cut short by several hours, Trump told reporters that Pyongyang had wanted “sanctions lifted in their entirety, but we couldn’t do that … we had to walk away from it”.

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