Korean, US financial chiefs discuss North Korea, FTA

Published : Oct 15, 2017 - 13:08 Updated : Oct 15, 2017 - 13:08

The top financial policymakers of South Korea and the United States met Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington D.C.

Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discussed pending issues including North Korea, the bilateral free trade agreement and the US report on currency manipulation, according to Seoul officials.

They expressed concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile provocations and agreed to enhance policy coordination to cope with risks related to North Korea.

Steven Mnuchin (AFP-Yonhap)

Mnuchin recognized the two countries' close cooperation in implementing sanctions against North Korea.

They also exchanged views on the ongoing talks to revise the terms of the Korea-US FTA. Earlier this month, Seoul and Washington agreed to begin the process of amending the FTA at Washington's request.

In their third meeting, Kim also stressed that South Korea does not intervene in foreign exchange markets. The US Treasury is set to announce a list of currency manipulating countries soon. (Yonhap)