Seoul's nuclear envoy to speak before EU

Lee Do-hoon, front, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, departs for Russia and Belgium at Incheon International Airport, Mar. 18. Yonhap

South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator will visit the headquarters of the European Union on Wednesday for discussions on North Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, plans to deliver a speech at the EU's Political and Security Committee in Brussels.

He will have a luncheon meeting with Helga Schmid, secretary general of the European External Action Service, the following day.

It's part of Seoul's efforts to strengthen partnerships with the international community on the North Korea issue. Concern has grown about the future of the fragile denuclearization and peace-building process since the second summit between Pyongyang and Washington in late February yielded no agreement.

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Helga Schmid, left, secretary general of the European External Action Service. Photo from WIKIDATA

On Tuesday, Lee had talks with his Russian counterpart, Igor Morgulov, in St. Petersburg, their first meeting in about three months.

They had "in-depth" discussions on ways for progress in denuclearization, the ministry said.

"The two sides agreed to make efforts together for the achievement of complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace," it added. "They also agreed that all relevant countries, including South Korea and Russia, will have to cooperate closely to pull off substantive progress through North Korea-U.S. dialogue."

Lee's scheduled to return to Seoul on Friday afternoon. (Yonhap)