Washington: South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok announced on Friday that he proposed the notion of the United States deploying a special envoy to North Korea in an effort to enhance relations between Washington and Pyongyang. This suggestion was made during his discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim shared this proposal at a meeting in the White House, where Vance sought his guidance on handling relations with the North Korean regime. This discussion takes place amidst speculation of a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during Trump's forthcoming visit to China in April.

The meeting was part of Kim's five-day visit to the U.S., marking his inaugural overseas trip as prime minister and the first independent visit to the U.S. by a South Korean premier since the nation's democratization in the late 1980s. Kim emphasized to Vance that President Trump is uniquely positioned to improve relations with North Korea due to his willingness and capability.

Kim further elaborated that appointing a special envoy to North Korea could signal an intent to strengthen ties with the North. Despite Trump's expressed interest in renewing dialogue with Kim Jong-un, uncertainties persist regarding North Korea's willingness to engage, especially given its growing collaborations with Moscow and Beijing.

During Trump's first presidential term, he held three direct meetings with Kim Jong-un: the initial summit in Singapore in June 2018, followed by a second in Hanoi in February 2019, and a third encounter at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019.