Seoul
South Korea’s Unification Minister, Kim Yung-ho, stated that talks between North Korea and the United States would be difficult without the involvement of South Korea. His comments, made on Sunday, underscore Seoul’s critical role in any diplomatic dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.
Kim acknowledged concerns that South Korea might be sidelined if North Korea and the U.S. resume dialogue directly, without consultation or coordination with Seoul. “It will be difficult for North Korea to go to Washington without going through Seoul,” Kim said, emphasizing the strong cooperation regime between South Korea and the U.S. that underpins their alliance.
The Unification Minister also called for clear and detailed guidelines to address North Korea’s nuclear issue, particularly with the incoming U.S. administration. He reiterated South Korea’s unwavering stance on North Korea’s denuclearization, stressing that any future dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea must be carefully coordinated with Seoul.
Kim also commented on the potential impact of personal diplomacy by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in his second term. He noted that, despite Trump’s focus on one-on-one diplomacy, the U.S. would still need to consider the positions of key allies like South Korea and NATO, especially in light of North Korea’s recent military actions in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In summary, Kim highlighted that for any meaningful U.S.-North Korea talks to take place, South Korea’s involvement and coordination would be essential to ensure regional stability and security.
