Seoul to work with U.S. to make N.K.-U.S. dialogue lead to progress on nuclear issue: Wi

Seoul is set to work closely with the United States to ensure that the resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang leads to concrete progress on the North Korean nuclear issue, stated South Korea's top security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, on Friday. National Security Adviser Wi made these remarks during a press briefing as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly shown interest in rekindling dormant diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

However, Trump's offer to engage in dialogue, at a time when North Korea has significantly enhanced its nuclear and missile capabilities, has raised concerns that renewed talks could jeopardize the long-standing goal of completely denuclearizing the North. Wi stressed that South Korea should prioritize cooperation with the U.S. in a manner that allows the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue to lead to tangible progress towards establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and addressing the North Korean nuclear issue.

The government plans to aid in building trust between North Korea and the U.S. so that President Trump's efforts can result in the reactivation of North Korea-U.S. dialogue. In the process, Seoul must ensure that its security posture remains robust and that it does not become marginal in Washington-Pyongyang engagement, Wi emphasized, highlighting the necessity of closer collaboration with Washington.

Discussing his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Seoul the previous week, Wi said both sides agreed to initiate joint preparations for President Lee Jae Myung's participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled to take place in China's Shenzhen in November. They also discussed measures to reinstate cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan, according to Wi.