Foreign Minister Song Min-soon says that discussions on a permanent peace regime can proceed in tandem with developments on the Korean Peninsula.

Song said that talks between parties directly related to peace on the Korean Peninsula would turn into peace regime talks once active discussions among the parties were under way.

Ahead of the resumption of the six-party talks next week, Song noted that related working groups would discuss denuclearization and diplomatic normalization.

Song’s remarks hinted that when the North shuts down its Yongbyon nuclear facilities, the working groups would tackle North Korea-U.S. normalization and the establishment of a peace and security regime in Northeast Asia.