Thread by @NoonInKorea

State Dept Korea Desk Director Mark Lambert exchanges opinions with SK businessmen about launching co-op initiatives with NK. Lambert reportedly tells them it's difficult to loosen US/UNSCR sanctions unless there is material progress on denuking front
yonhapnews.co.kr/nk/2018/07/26/…

Per Lambert, the US is ready to respond once NK takes denuking steps but until then no relief from sanctions is possible. SK bizmen realize there is a wall separating them from NK which SK cannot take down without US/UN approval
world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_v…

Lambert is in charge of the so called "NY Channel" which hooked up Pompeo with Kim Yong-chol presumably via NK's UN embassy, which also played role in KYC's visit to NYC and Washington. Well, one key member of the NY Channel is being called back to NK
koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20…

Any particular reason? He's been UN Ambassador for 4 years and prolly discussed future w/NK officials at the ambassador meeting in Pyongyang. The gathering was unscheduled but not unexpected. He's likely to be replaced w/someone named Kim Song
upi.com/Top_News/World…

All this while Pompeo talks directly w/SK Unif Minister Cho Myoung-gyun. Remember his counterpart is foreign, not unification, minister. Pompeo likely asked Cho not to get ahead of the process by starting outreach programs that violate existing sanctions
yonhapnews.co.kr/nk/2018/07/26/…

Amb Ja Song-nam who is leaving NK's UN Mission is the same one who left his seat and declined to face Trump when he came to the podium at the UN General Assembly. That was back in Sept 2017 when Trump delivered his "totally destroy NK if necessary" speech

https://twitter.com/NoonInKorea/status/912053649249128448

The same one who told NK pointman Joseph Yun about Otto Warmbier's comatose state. He headed the New York Channel at the UN Mission which did manage to hook up State Dept officials with Kim Yong-chol

So why would Pompeo seek out Unification Minister Cho and Lambert "exchanged opinions" with SK bizmen eager to restart Kaesong: is there a rift? Possible, esp with regard to going forward with the end-of-war declaration and planned NK outreach programs
yonhapnews.co.kr/nk/2018/07/27/…

But for now SK is cooperating: the Unif Ministry "postpones" the granting of permits for 153 SK businessmen to visit their plants & property in Kaesong. This comes after Pompeo's direct talk with Minister Cho and Lambert's "conference" with Kaesong bizmen
yonhapnews.co.kr/nk/2018/07/27/…