US and South Korea Reaffirm Close Cooperation on North Korea Policy

Diplomatic Engagement on North Korea Policy

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim held discussions with Jeong Yeon-doo, head of the office of strategy and intelligence at the South Korean Foreign Ministry. The meeting in Seoul focused on maintaining close cooperation between the two nations regarding North Korea-related issues. Ambassador Kim emphasized the 'very close' partnership and 'close coordination' between the United States and South Korea on all matters concerning Pyongyang.

Reinforcing Alliance Coordination

The talks come as both allies seek to establish regular meetings to coordinate their policy on North Korea. Ambassador Kim, who was appointed as acting US Ambassador on October 27, 2025, brings significant experience in North Korea negotiations, having served as Chief of Staff to the Special Representative for North Korea and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun from 2018 to 2020. His remarks to reporters following the meeting highlighted the productive nature of the ongoing dialogue.

Denuclearization and Policy Nuances

A key aspect of the ongoing discussions between Seoul and Washington revolves around the approach to North Korea's nuclear program. The United States has consistently reaffirmed its policy of 'complete denuclearization' of North Korea. This stance was reiterated by a US envoy on December 8, 2025, following concerns that a new US security strategy document had omitted the phrase. Ambassador Kim has reportedly raised concerns regarding South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's use of the term 'Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons,' suggesting it could send an ambiguous signal to Pyongyang compared to the more direct 'denuclearization.'

Ambassador Kim has been actively engaged in high-level diplomatic efforts, having held successive meetings with various South Korean officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, and Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back.

Broader Diplomatic Engagements

The meeting between Ambassador Kim and Jeong Yeon-doo is part of a broader series of diplomatic engagements aimed at aligning strategies toward North Korea. The Lee Jae Myung administration is pursuing its 'END' initiative, which focuses on

• Exchange
• Normalization
• Denuclearization

as pathways to restoring engagement and economic cooperation with North Korea. Additionally, South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac is scheduled to visit Washington next week for further talks with senior US officials, including discussions on North Korea policy and follow-up measures to the recent summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump.