SEOUL, May 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's top presidential security advisor on Monday called for the need to restore contact channels with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Chung Eui-yong, who was appointed Sunday by President Moon Jae-in to lead the National Security Office of the presidential Blue House, paid a courtesy call to chiefs of the main opposition parties to ask for a parliamentary cooperation in security issues.
After meeting with Roh Hoe-chan, floor leader of the minor progressive Justice Party, Chung told reporters that the communication channels and the hotline in the truce village of Panmunjom between South Korea and the DPRK should be resumed rapidly, though any official dialogue with the DPRK cannot be resumed at the current stage.
Chung said attempts should be made for a working-level dialogue with the DPRK in a gradual manner, noting that inter-Korean exchanges, including personnel, cultural, social and sports exchanges, can be made within the limits of undamaging the sanctions on the DPRK.
However, he said the South Korean government would try to take a cautious approach, stressing the importance of international cooperation with neighboring countries and not to make them misunderstand.
Regarding the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, Chung said a task force team would be formed under the National Security Office to review the overall procedure of the deployment as it was a politically sensitive issue.
When meeting with the whip of the centrist People's Party, Chung said his office will closely cooperate with the National Assembly in resolving the THAAD issue, adding that the procedural problems with the installation should be resolved through the parliament.
