Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Monday expressed a wish that the United States and North Korea could resume the negotiations they left off in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2019. Chung made the remarks during a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Vu Ho, amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming visit to South Korea from Oct. 29-30.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung stated, "I sincerely hope that the negotiations left unfinished during the meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea can resume." During Trump's first term, he and Kim held their second summit in Hanoi in February 2019 to discuss North Korea's nuclear program, but the talks ended without a deal, and no further negotiations have taken place since.

Chung praised Vietnam's experiences of diplomatic normalization and subsequent economic development, suggesting that the country can serve as "an important model" for North Korea. He noted that North Korea hopes to follow in Vietnam's footsteps in terms of development.

The two officials also shared their intent to promote close cooperation between their countries to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.