Defense chief says 'strongly' hopes for resumption of N. Korea-US dialogue

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back expressed on Tuesday a strong hope for the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the United States. He stated that the South Korean military will provide support for this endeavor with "powerful might." Ahn made these remarks during the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), as U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year.

Despite the various challenges, Ahn expressed a strong hope that the dialogue between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would yield fruitful results. The South Korean military's support for this initiative will be significant, he added, emphasizing that the military will aid South Korea's "pacemaker role" as outlined by President Lee Jae Myung to promote the resumption of dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.

These remarks came after President Trump directed the Pentagon to scale down joint S. Korea-U.S. military exercises last month, which appeared to be a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea. Lee Jae Myung echoed Trump's efforts to create conditions for dialogue with Pyongyang, expressing his respect for the decision to reduce military exercises.