Top nuke envoys of S. Korea, Japan meet ahead of trilateral talks with U.S.

▲ Kim Gunn (R), special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart, Hiroyuki Namazu, prior to their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Jan. 17, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Japan-nuke envoys

Top nuke envoys of S. Korea, Japan meet ahead of trilateral talks with U.S.

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The chief nuclear envoys of South Korea and Japan held talks in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's military provocations amid its growing ties with Russia.

Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, met with his Japanese counterpart, Hiroyuki Namazu, at the foreign ministry in Seoul earlier in the day.

On Thursday, the two sides are set to hold a three-way meeting with their U.S. counterpart, Jung Pak. Separately, Kim will also hold bilateral talks with Pak.

Earlier, the ministry said the three envoys plan to share their assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's recent provocations and deepening military cooperation with Russia.

The meeting came as North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui traveled to Moscow this week and met Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on ways to expand their ties, further raising concerns over their military ties.

South Korea and the United States have accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine in exchange for technical assistance in its advanced arms development.

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