U.S. and South Korean officials are exploring the possibility of holding regular meetings to discuss their broader North Korea policy, according to information confirmed on Tuesday.
A senior official at South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two governments have been maintaining close communication and cooperation on North Korea policy. The official noted that they had been considering regular working-level coordination meetings for several months and explained that these discussions would cover comprehensive policy issues, including potential engagement strategies.
In 2018, the U.S. and South Korea operated a permanent consultative body (working group) to coordinate North Korea policy, including discussions on sanctions exemptions. This time, they are reportedly coordinating to hold regular meetings using existing communication channels rather than creating a separate consultative body.
The implementation of regular meetings is significant, as it indicates that the U.S. and South Korea are activating a unified framework for cooperation on North Korea. While the U.S. has not yet formalized its North Korea policy under the Trump administration, these regular meetings could provide an opportunity for the U.S. to consider South Korea’s perspective before announcing a formal policy early next year.
Notably, the White House released its National Security Strategy (NSS) on Friday, outlining its highest-level foreign policy priorities. The Department of Defense (DoD) is expected to follow up with its National Defense Strategy (NDS), which details specific defense policies. These developments could pave the way for the formalization of North Korea policy and the appointment of a Special Representative for North Korea at the State Department to serve as the chief negotiator.
Currently, the U.S. and South Korea are coordinating their extended deterrence operations and nuclear deterrence strategies through the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). They are also conducting multi-layered discussions via the Extended Deterrence Strategy Consultative Group (EDSCG), which includes diplomatic and defense authorities, and the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD), which facilitates regular dialogue between defense authorities.
The South Korean government announced plans to launch what it calls the Peaceful Coexistence Process on the Korean Peninsula starting next year, which is expected to further refine its strategy in coordination with Washington. During a Sunday press briefing marking the first six months of the Lee Jae Myung administration, National Security Advisor Wi Seong Rak said 2026 would need to be a decisive year for South Korea’s diplomacy and security and added that the government intends to pursue a resumption of dialogue with North Korea to initiate the new policy process fully.