U.S. nuclear envoy heads to Pyeongyang for working-level talks with Kim Hyok-chol

비건 탑승 추정 미군기 오산서 이륙... 2차 북미정상회담 세부조율

Meanwhile, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, left South Korea this morning for Pyeongyang.
After spending a few days in Seoul and meeting with his South Korean counterpart and Seoul's National Security Advisor, Biegun will be attending talks with his North Korean counterpart.
Our unification ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee is on the line with more on Biegun's trip.
Jung-hee, what's the latest?
Devin,
A U.S. military aircraft with Biegun on board left the U.S. Air Base in Osan three hours ago.
And Russia's Tass News Agency reported less than an hour ago that Biegun arrived in Pyeongyang.
It's believed that the U.S. envoy flew along the western coast of the two Koreas directly to Pyeongyang's Sunan International Airport.
The U.S. State Department confirmed yesterday that Biegun will be meeting with his new North Korean counterpart, Kim Hyok-chol.
According to a South Korean official, there's a high chance that Biegun will spend the night in North Korea.
These working-level talks are to prepare for a second Kim-Trump summit.
The two sides will be discussing what North Korea should do next and what the U.S. can give in return.
Last week, speaking at Stanford University, Biegun said... when Secretary Pompeo visited Pyeongyang in October last year, Kim Jong-un promised to dismantle his regime's plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities "beyond" those in Yongbyon.
Also, Kim agreed to invite American experts to verify the destruction of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
Biegun also stressed that the U.S. needs to have a full understanding of the North's nuclear program and ultimately ensure that the relevant materials and weapons are moved out of the country.
So those are expected to be the U.S. demands to the North.
And in return, it's likely that Washington will provide economic benefits including sanctions relief.
The Washington Post has previously reported that the U.S. is quietly preparing a special "economic package" to draw Pyeongyang into denuclearization.
Trump also recently stressed that Kim Jong-un has an opportunity to make North Korea a "tremendous economic behemoth" if he denuclearizes.
Also on the list could be establishing a joint liaison office, declaring an end to the Korean War and providing humanitarian aid.
Back to you, Devin.