U.S.-N. Korea talks key to breaking stalemate: Seoul official

Seoul officials argue that direct U.S.-North Korea talks are crucial for halting Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program and reviving stalled inter-Korean relations. The official emphasized that North Korea is currently bolstering its nuclear capabilities while inter-Korean exchange has come to a standstill. The resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang appears to be the only viable path forward, they argued.

The official expressed optimism about President Donald Trump's recent overture to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, suggesting that the current situation could represent more than a mere spark igniting dialogue but rather a significant shift in tectonic plates. The official further suggested that such dialogue could lead to a comprehensive plan to replace the current unstable armistice system on the Korean peninsula with a more stable and enduring peace regime.

The official also noted that scaling back joint military exercises and Trump's vague stance on denuclearization align with the conditions Kim set forth in February for talks with Washington. In February, Kim had stated that North Korea had no reason not to engage with the U.S. if Washington withdrew its hostile policies towards the North.

The official stressed that the first step toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is to halt North Korea's development of nuclear weapons.