Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun stressed the United States’ commitment to restarting talks between Washington and Pyongyang on Thursday, wrapping up a visit to South Korea that was largely dominated by speculation over the fate of diplomacy with the North.

Following a meeting with Suh Hoon, the new director of the National Security Office (NSO), a readout by the Blue House stated that Biegun had “emphasized the importance of resuming dialogue between the North and the U.S.”

Suh, in turn, reportedly said he “highly appreciated how … Biegun is committed to resuming talks between