Seoul, Washington Reaffirm Denuclearization Goal Amid North Korea Dialogue Push
South Korea says it is working closely with the U.S. to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue and achieve denuclearization.
South Korea's foreign ministry has reiterated that Seoul and Washington remain firmly committed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to the shared goal of denuclearization. The statement was made during a regular briefing on Tuesday by ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon.
Park's remarks came shortly after reports that South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone, agreeing to maintain close communication on addressing the North Korean nuclear issue. The spokesperson confirmed that the recent ministerial call included discussions on coordinating North Korea policy.
Addressing questions about former U.S. President Donald Trump's social media posts featuring photos with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Park said Seoul is playing the role of a peacemaker. He expressed hope that Pyongyang would respond positively to efforts aimed at resuming North Korea-U.S. dialogue.
"Our government is making active efforts, in close coordination with the United States, toward the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula," Park said.
The comments follow Trump's recent announcement that he had ordered a significant reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with Kim. Trump also indicated plans to meet with the North Korean leader later this year.