South Korea’s foreign minister said on Wednesday he was devising a roadmap to prepare for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s potential reopening of nuclear talks with North Korea, conceding Seoul’s political turmoil had disrupted ties with Trump’s team.
Reuters reports that at a rare joint news conference for foreign media, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok sought to reassure Seoul’s allies and calm market jitters since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law attempt that triggered the nation’s biggest political crisis in decades.
Cho said Seoul had built a network and communication channels with Trump’s campaign that were “stronger than those of any other country,” but the martial law order caused disruptions and weakened political momentum between the two sides.
Cho’s team has been crafting a roadmap for a possible restart of talks between Washington and Pyongyang, he said, pointing to Trump’s pick of his former intelligence chief as envoy for special missions including North Korea policy.
“We take that appointment as evidence that President-elect Trump is not neglecting the North Korea nuclear issue, and I think we need to respond more proactively,” he said.
“Our communication with North Korea has been cut off as they have refused dialogue and negotiations, but we are open to all opportunities to talk to North Korea, including on the nuclear issue, if there are any.”
Pyongyang has ignored four years of outreach by U.S. President Joe Biden to resume dialogue with no preconditions, but Trump’s team was pursuing direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hoping to reduce risks of an armed clash.
