Unification minister says U.S.-N. Korea dialogue key first step to halting Pyongyang's nuclear program

SEOUL, August 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's nuclear weapons program can only be stopped through direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young declared Thursday, amid speculation that President Donald Trump may seek to reinitiate his personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The minister emphasized that halting the program is in the best interest of all parties involved.

Trump stated on Wednesday that he maintains a good relationship with Kim and intends to meet the North Korean leader later this year, without specifying further details. Chung expressed hope that the momentum between the two sides would be sustained and expanded to include South Korea and China as well. However, the minister also noted that the recent statement by Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's powerful sister, dismissing Trump's overture by calling the reduction in South Korea-U.S. military exercises unworthy of comment, presents a challenge.

While Kim indicated she was unaware of any communication between her brother and Trump, she mentioned that the head of state has good memories and feelings about Trump personally, suggesting room for future engagement. The ministry stressed that the top priority is formally ending the Korean War and establishing a peace regime on the peninsula, as the 1950-1953 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

In his Liberation Day address on Saturday, President Lee Jae Myung proposed that the two Koreas initiate talks on ending the long-standing war and build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.