Ministry of Unification says it regularly shares current issues with U.S. Embassy in South Korea; hopes to meet Ambassador Steele

[Financial News] The Ministry of Unification said on the 13th that it regularly communicates with the U.S. Embassy in South Korea and shares information on issues related to the Korean Peninsula. Concerns about a breakdown in communication between the two sides persist, as Minister Chung Dong-young has wanted to meet U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel since August, but the meeting has yet to materialize.
A Ministry of Unification official told reporters that day, “The director general of the Office of Unification Policy is meeting with a minister-counselor at the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, and officials at the working level also meet regularly to share relevant issues.”
The official also dismissed overinterpretations of Ambassador Steel’s failure to pay a courtesy call on the minister of unification even two months after taking office, unlike her predecessors, saying, “We haven’t received a request (from the U.S. Embassy) yet,” and, “I don’t think it’s something to rush.”
Minister Chung also said the previous day, during a meeting with Ministry of Unification reporters, that he would communicate with Ambassador Steel soon.
Since formally taking up her post in early August, Ambassador Steel has continued to meet key figures, including President Lee Jae-myung, Prime Minister Han Seong-suk, National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties, and figures from Christian, Buddhist and business communities. Nevertheless, her meeting with Minister Chung in particular has not materialized, raising questions.
There has also been speculation that Ambassador Steel is being cautious about meeting Minister Chung because she is mindful of her home country’s policy. Minister Chung has faced criticism that he helped trigger restrictions on intelligence sharing between South Korea and the United States by disclosing secrets about a nuclear facility in Kusong, North Korea.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter