U.S. ON INDIVIDUAL TOURS TO N. KOREA

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Now the issue is Washington's stance on this matter as the United States is still imposing strict sanctions on North Korea. South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon plans to discuss the issue of South Koreans' individual travels to North Korea with American officials during his visit to Washington.

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President Moon Jae-in said in his new year's address that the option of tourism in North Korea can be fully explored without violating existing sanctions. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who met with her American counterpart Mike Pompeo, said the U.S. understands the need for travels to the regime and other inter-Korean cooperation projects.

[Soundbite] FOREIGN MINISTER KANG KYUNG-WHA(JAN. 15, PALO ALTO) : "The U.S. fully understands our resolutions and hopes on the matter."

On the following day, the South Korean peace envoy arrived in the U.S. to discuss in detail ways to gain Washington's cooperation.

[Soundbite] LEE DO-HOON(SPECIAL REP. FOR KOREAN PENINSULA PEACE AND SECURITY AFFAIRS) : "(Do you think South Koreans' individual travels to North Korea mentioned by the president are likely to be allowed?) I'm going to bring it up, because that's not banned by the U.N. Security Council's sanctions."

While Seoul's top diplomat assured that Washington is aware of South Korea's stance on the matter, the special representative believes it is necessary to again ask for America's understanding.

[Soundbite] LEE DO-HOON(SPECIAL REP. FOR KOREAN PENINSULA PEACE AND SECURITY AFFAIRS) : "I think we need to talk frankly about each other's stance and gain their understanding."

It seems South Korea needs to explain the matter in greater detail to gain cooperation from the U.S., as the two sides are forming a united front on North Korean issues. Following the sit-down between the two top diplomats, the U.S. State Department said the allies need to keep working closely on North Korean affairs. Meanwhile, Seoul's peace and security ambassador made it clear that trying to improve cross-border relations through tourism helps the Pyeongyang-Washington dialogue.

[Soundbite] LEE DO-HOON(SPECIAL REP. FOR KOREAN PENINSULA PEACE AND SECURITY AFFAIRS) : "We are doing what we can while helping the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington by trying to improve inter-Korean relations."

He emphasized these issues cannot be resolved all at once and promised to update the public on positive outcomes from the talks.