What Happened: U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun has announced he will have an additional meeting with his North Korean counterparts before an upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, NK News reported Feb. 8.
Why It Matters: Biegun's announcement indicates that both sides require additional coordination before the summit, scheduled for Feb. 27-28, to reconcile potential differences. It remains possible that both sides are working toward a major announcement, such as a Korean War peace deal.
Background: Trump and Kim will meet Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam in hopes of advancing goals from their summit last year. Tensions between their countries have remained relatively low since the summit, though North Korea has not yet taken tangible steps toward denuclearization.
Read More:
- North Korea, U.S.: Trump and Kim Hope to Get Detente Back on Track (Jan. 18, 2019)
- North Korea, China: Kim Arrives in Beijing Amid Talk of Another U.S. Summit (Jan. 8, 2019)
- Is North Korea Balking at Denuclearization? (July 2, 2018)
