Seoul: The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States have agreed to maintain essential communication and cooperation to address North Korea's nuclear issue and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula during a call, Seoul's foreign ministry stated Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in phone talks on Monday (Seoul time). This discussion comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent reluctance to clarify his objective regarding reengagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, leading to speculations that the United States might recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.
The ministry's press release on their talks did not specify whether the diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, despite both parties highlighting the importance of cooperation on North Korea's nuclear quandary. "The minister and secretary agreed to maintain essential communication and cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of North Korea's nuclear issue while maintaining a solid combined defense posture," the ministry stated.
Specifically, Cho mentioned that the South Korean government will strive to ensure that Trump's recent message for North Korea will facilitate a dialogue resumption between Washington and Pyongyang, and peace on the peninsula, according to the ministry. The minister was referring to Trump's remarks last week about a potential meeting with Kim later this year.
Trump's comments followed his earlier directive to scale back South Korea-U.S. military exercises, a decision seen as a gesture towards Pyongyang. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump aims to meet Kim, possibly during his upcoming Asia trip for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November.
Acknowledging recent international shifts, the top diplomats reiterated their shared understanding of the heightened importance of close communication between South Korea and the U.S., the ministry noted. They also agreed to collaborate on improving bilateral relations by achieving outcomes on various pending issues, including tariffs, an investment agreement, and security cooperation.
During the call, Cho emphasized the Seoul government's dedication to contributing to the restoration of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, recognizing President Trump's and the U.S.'s active leadership in addressing the Middle East issue. Rubio elaborated on U.S. efforts to restore peace and stability in the Middle East, as mentioned by the ministry.
Cho and Rubio concurred to meet soon for in-depth discussions on key pending issues.