South Korea backs Trump’s push to revive North Korea talks
SEOUL: South Korea has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to restart dialogue with North Korea but wants any renewed negotiations to produce meaningful progress on Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.
South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Friday that Seoul supports Washington’s diplomatic outreach to North Korea, provided that it does not weaken the country’s security preparedness or leave South Korea out of the process.
Wi said any renewed US-North Korea dialogue should focus on achieving tangible progress towards addressing North Korea’s nuclear weapons capabilities while also supporting efforts to establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
He stressed that close coordination between Seoul and Washington would be essential if negotiations with Pyongyang resume.
“We need to coordinate with the United States to ensure that any resumption of US-North Korea dialogue leads to substantive progress on the North Korean nuclear issue,” Wi said.
The national security adviser also referred to Trump’s recent decision to significantly reduce major joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. He said the move appeared to indicate Washington’s willingness to create conditions for renewed engagement with North Korea.
However, Seoul remains concerned about maintaining a credible defence posture. Wi said South Korea must ensure that diplomatic efforts do not undermine military readiness.
He also warned that Seoul should not be sidelined if Washington succeeds in reopening talks with Pyongyang.
Trump has been seeking another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two leaders held three summits during 2018 and 2019, but their negotiations failed to produce a lasting agreement on denuclearisation.
Trump has previously criticised the scale of joint US-South Korean military exercises, arguing that some drills could send the wrong message to North Korea. His administration has continued to explore ways to bring Pyongyang back to negotiations.
Meanwhile, South Korea, the United States and Japan are scheduled to hold joint military exercises from September 9 to 11. The drills are intended to test the three countries’ readiness to respond to potential missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.
Wi also said Seoul was seeking closer cooperation with Washington on several issues that have occasionally created friction between the two allies.
These areas include South Korean investment in the United States under a bilateral trade agreement, security cooperation, intelligence sharing and the planned transfer of wartime operational control.
The treatment of US-listed South Korean e-commerce company Coupang was also mentioned among the issues requiring greater coordination.
