By Alex Jensen
SEOUL (AA) – A special envoy picked by South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday he is going to North Korea to discuss “ways to completely denuclearize ” the Korean Peninsula.
Having also visited the North Korean capital in March, Moon's security advisor Chung Eui-yong will lead a delegation for a one-day trip to Pyongyang on Wednesday.
Just as earlier this year, Chung's primary mission appears to be paving the way for an inter-Korean summit — Moon has agreed to go to Pyongyang within this month but a date is yet to be fixed.
However, Chung made it clear on the eve of his mission that he will not simply be filling in a calendar.
“The special delegation also plans to hold discussions on ways to completely denuclearize (the peninsula) and establish lasting peace, ” Chung was quoted as saying by local news agency Yonhap.
He added that he will take with him a letter from Moon for North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un.
It is not clear, however, whether Chung's delegation will be able to meet with Kim as they did in March.
Speculation has been building about the North Korean leader's whereabouts as he has not made any public appearances in the past 15 days following an active summer.
Kim may be busy focusing on inter-Korean affairs, as he disappeared from view for a similar period of time before greeting Chung and his fellow delegates in Pyongyang earlier this year.
