South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok disclosed that the US President Donald Trump inquired about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's interest in engaging in diplomatic discussions with the US during their meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Kim conveyed her comments during a media briefing regarding the brief discussion lasting 20 minutes, emphasizing President Trump's keenness on reinitiating diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.
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This comes amid rumors that President Trump may potentially request a meeting with the leader of North Korea during his upcoming visit to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping.
"(President Trump) said that he has maintained good relations with Chairman Kim Jong-un," the prime minister said. "And he also asked for my views, saying that he is wondering if Chairman Kim wants dialogue with the U.S. and President Trump."
During the meeting, the prime minister highlighted statements made by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, indicating that Trump is the singular leader with the ability to address concerns regarding the Korean Peninsula.
In reaction, Trump instructed his staff to retrieve a photograph of himself alongside the leader of North Korea, captured during their encounter at the inter-Korean peace village of Panmunjom in June of 2019.
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Kim stated that he had discussed his diplomatic proposals with North Korea, and Trump instructed his advisors to explore measures concerning the North Korean relationship. Kim chose not to provide further details on those ideas to the media, explaining that it was necessary to first present them to Lee.
During a key ruling party congress last month, Kim said that Pyongyang has "no reason not to get along with the US" if Washington withdraws its hostile policy, noting that the prospects of U.S.-North Korea ties "entirely depend on the U.S. attitude."
Kim has shown no interest in inter-Korean dialogue. Trump and Kim Jong Un held three meetings during Trump's previous presidency, starting with their historic summit in 2018. These meetings were aimed at easing tensions and establishing a framework for North Korea to possibly halt its nuclear weapons development. Unfortunately, progress in the diplomatic discussions stalled following the lack of a significant outcome in the second summit, and negotiations came to a halt after Trump's term ended.
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The Washington trip also encompassed a distinct dialogue between Kim Min-seok and JD Vance the prior day. Within that exchange, the South Korean premier underscored the endorsement by South Korea’s legislative body of a law authorizing the administration to proceed with a $350 billion investment pledge linked to accords between the top officials of both nations.
As per the statement from Kim's office, Vance expressed appreciation for the legislative endorsement, recognizing it as crucial for the implementation of the investment initiative. He further underscored the significance of ensuring strong collaboration between Washington and Seoul as the agreement progresses.
Recently, the trade partnership between the two countries has encountered tension. At the beginning of this year, President Trump issued a caution that the tariffs imposed on South Korean goods could potentially rise to 25 percent if Seoul did not adhere to the established trade agreement that had limited US tariffs to 15 percent. Despite the existing tensions, the US and South Korea persist in upholding a strong strategic partnership. This alliance encompasses extensive military collaboration and the deployment of over 28,000 American soldiers in South Korea.