SEOUL: Choi Jong-kun, South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister, will travel to Washington next week for meetings with his American and Japanese counterparts, according to the Foreign Ministry. Choi will see the Unites States  Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman on November 16 during his visit, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.

Both ministers are likely to discuss methods to restart nuclear talks with North Korea, which have been deadlocked since 2019, as well as Seoul's request to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War. Choi will also participate in trilateral meetings with Sherman and Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo the following day. The trilateral conference takes place as part of a US attempt to strengthen ties with Asian allies amid escalating antagonism between Washington and Beijing.

Since April 2015, Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo have held eight rounds of three-way vice-ministerial discussions. In July, the most recent meeting was held in Japan.

South Korea temporarily slashes fuel taxes to combat rising oil prices

North Korea calls for increased efforts to meet the 5-year plan's economic objectives

South Korea-US negotiations over end-of-war declaration in final stages