U.S. Officials Contradict Moon's Version of Events

U.S. Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun has embarrassed South Korean President Moon Jae-in by saying Moon "blurted out" the claim that behind-the-scenes talks between the U.S. and North Korea were ongoing.

Moon had told global wires services in a written interview on June 26 that "behind-the-scenes" meetings are taking place between the U.S. and North Korea about another summit.

U.S. President Donald Trump duly met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the demilitarized zone a few days later.

But speaking off-the-record with U.S. reporters aboard Air Force One as Trump was returning from his visit to South Korea, Biegun said the U.S. and North Korea "never" held any behind-the-scenes meetings to discuss the day's impromptu summit.

Meanwhile, another senior Trump administration official on Wednesday also said the U.S. "thinks differently" to Moon, who claimed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the meeting between Trump and Kim signals a "virtual end to hostile relations."

The official told the Chosun Ilbo on condition of anonymity that "there is a long way to go before hostile relations end." "We can say that we have entered the path to ending hostile relations, but we've only just begun," the official added.