Overview
- South Korea’s foreign ministry said working‑level discussions are underway to set up regular bilateral meetings on North Korea policy, with no plan for a permanent standing body.
- National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Seoul is not considering using combined South Korea–U.S. military exercises as leverage to restart talks with Pyongyang.
- The Unification Ministry signaled conditional openness to discuss adjustments to joint drills in the future if circumstances allow, highlighting a continuing policy divide inside the Lee administration.
- Acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim reaffirmed that complete denuclearization remains the shared policy despite its omission from the new U.S. National Security Strategy, and he stressed tight coordination on exercises.
- Local reports said Washington urged Seoul to maintain sanctions and align messaging to preserve negotiating leverage, a portrayal South Korean officials have challenged.