Seoul Huddle Follows Talks With N. Korea

Washington’s efforts to placate South Korea moved into high gear Friday as U.S. and North Korean delegates worked on details of a nuclear compromise.

A high-powered State Department team of chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Robert Gallucci and Undersecretary of State Winston Lord arrived in Seoul on Friday amid speculation they were sent to appease South Korea’s government.

“We are here because talks in Kuala Lumpur have progressed” to the point where Washington needs consultations with Seoul and Tokyo, Gallucci said upon arrival.

“We plan over the next few days to intensify those consultations with our allies in both capitals,” he said. The American officials left Kimpo Airport without answering questions from dozens of reporters.

A South Korean statement said the U.S. officials will meet Saturday with Foreign Minister Gong Ro-myung and Unification Minister Rha Woong-bae. No date for the Americans’ departure was set, it said.