Washington: South Korea's top envoy to the United States has committed to working closely with the U.S. to create conditions conducive for resuming diplomacy with North Korea. This comes amid uncertainties surrounding Pyongyang's response to dialogue initiatives.

According to Yonhap News Agency, newly appointed Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, who previously served as Seoul's foreign minister from 2017-2021, addressed Korean correspondents for the first time since assuming office last month. She emphasized the importance of securing U.S. support for South Korea's policy toward North Korea.

Kang stated that alongside the U.S., the South Korean government aims to facilitate conditions favorable for both inter-Korean dialogue and discussions between North Korea and the U.S. She echoed President Lee Jae Myung's commitment to close U.S. collaboration for peace on the Korean Peninsula, a sentiment he expressed during a White House summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in August.

Highlighting agreements reached during Lee's meetings with Trump, including a recent summit in Korea, Kang noted the two nations' joint commitment to peace and stability on the peninsula and the importance of maintaining communication with North Korea.

Kang acknowledged the complex international landscape characterized by numerous challenges and emphasized the need to implement the Lee administration's pragmatic diplomacy. She highlighted the robust, future-oriented alliance with the U.S. as essential for this endeavor.

She remarked on the successful reciprocal visits between South Korean and U.S. leaders within five months of the Lee administration's inception, resulting in significant trade and security agreements. Kang expressed confidence that the trust and cooperative spirit between Lee and Trump would underpin the continued development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Kang pledged that the embassy would diligently ensure the implementation of diplomatic outcomes achieved with the U.S. She highlighted the joint fact sheet on bilateral trade and security agreements, noting significant achievements, including Seoul's $350 billion investment commitment in the U.S. in exchange for reduced tariffs on South Korean products and U.S. support for South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine ambitions.

Kang and her embassy intend to support the advancement of these agreements, with confidence that procedural issues or potential disagreements in the U.S. will not impede the submarine project, given the leaders' clear commitment outlined in the fact sheet. Despite speculation about internal U.S. debates regarding proliferation concerns, Kang remains optimistic about the project's progress.