SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that US President Donald Trump clearly wants dialogue with North Korea, as efforts to revive negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme remain stalled.
Lee said Seoul was encouraging Trump to pursue talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and was continuing efforts to support possible engagement between Washington and Pyongyang.
“What is clear is that President Trump wants dialogue, and I am also urging President Trump to engage in dialogue,” Lee told reporters at a press conference at the presidential Blue House.
Talks Remain Uncertain
Trump has expressed interest in renewing contact with Kim, saying last month that he planned to meet the North Korean leader later this year.
During his first term, Trump held three meetings with Kim, including a historic summit in Singapore in 2018. The talks focused on denuclearisation and improving relations, but negotiations later stalled over disagreements about sanctions relief and the scope of North Korea’s nuclear commitments.
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Trump has said maintaining communication with Kim is important, while North Korea has not provided a clear response to his latest statements.
Lee said South Korea was conducting “preliminary coordination efforts” to help create conditions for dialogue between North Korea and the United States.
He acknowledged that arranging a meeting would be difficult but said it remained possible if efforts continued.
“I cannot say for certain how likely it is, but it is also clear that we must make every possible effort to turn that possibility into reality,” Lee said.
Nuclear Concerns Continue
Trump said last month that North Korea had 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, while South Korea estimates Pyongyang’s arsenal is larger, ranging between 80 and 120 warheads.
North Korea has conducted multiple nuclear tests and missile launches over the years, prompting international sanctions and security concerns in the region.
The United States, South Korea and Japan have continued security cooperation, while Seoul has also called for diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
