Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters). – On Monday, the U.S. envoy to North Korea visited Seoul for discussions with South Korean counterparts about ways to deal with Pyongyang’s increasing missile launches and fears over a resumption nuclear testing.

Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative, and Jung Pak his deputy will be meeting with South Korean officials during a five day visit.

The arrival of the troops coincided with the nine-day annual joint military drill that was being conducted by U.S. soldiers and South Korean troops. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated on Sunday that the drill is “defensive command-post training using computer simulation” without any field maneuvers.

North Korea condemned joint drills and has been reducing them in recent years as part of diplomacy and COVID-19 restrictions.

North Korea tested missiles that, according to the state media was intended for delivering nuclear tactical weapons on Saturday.

Kim said to reporters upon his arrival that he was visiting Seoul for “close coordination” regarding North Korean developments. Yonhap reported without exacerbating.

While he stated he was open to discussions with North Korea at anytime and without any preconditions but Pyongyang rejected those offers and accuses Washington of having hostile policies, such as the use sanctions and conducting military drills,

South Korean media claimed that Kim would also meet with Yoon Suk-yeol’s transition team, who assumes office in May.

According to a spokesperson from the team, there has not been any confirmation of Yoon’s meeting with Kim. He could also not confirm whether other transition officials would be attending the meeting.