It's known that North Korea and the U.S. are discussing working-level AND high-level talks between North Korea and the U.S.... and while progress appears slow on the surface, a South Korean official says.... the U.S. is ready, and is currently waiting for the North.
Lee Ji-won reports.
A high-level meeting between North Korea and the U.S. is likely to take place as soon as the North is ready.

A senior South Korean official with knowledge of the North Korea-U.S. talks told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that high-level talks are still being discussed, but a specific date and venue has not yet been confirmed, as the North is not giving an answer.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with Voice of America last week, that he's hopeful a senior-level meeting between himself and his North Korean counterpart will take place in the "next week and a half or so".

The South Korean official added the U.S. is ready for the meeting, and it will likely take place as soon as the North replies.
On speculation the North Korean leader's younger sister Kim Yo-jong, who serves as the First Vice Department Director of the Central Committee, could be the "counterpart" Pompeo mentioned, the South Korean official said it seems the U.S. is also unsure.
Pompeo's counterpart had been the vice chairman of North Korea's ruling party's central committee, Kim Yong-chol,... but he did not join the latest talks between Pompeo and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the secretary's fourth visit to the North.

The South Korean official also touched on the working-level talks between North Korea's vice foreign minister Choe Son-hui and U.S. Special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun,... which was agreed to by Kim Jong-un back in October.

While the meeting has yet to take place, the official said that too will happen once the North is ready.
He added the working-level meeting will cover the joint declaration, escort and even communication network for the second summit... so it takes time to prepare.

The official says North Korea has bet everything into this game, including the dismantlement of its nuclear assets and facilities, and thus Pyeongyang has to be careful, and thoroughly prepare for the deal.

The official expects the North will maintain its request for security assurances and the lifting of sanctions during its talks with the U.S.,... adding he expects a declaration to end the Korean War to be crystalized during the working-level talks.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.