Archive · 20 Aug 2026
South Korea Calls US-North Korea Dialogue First Nuclear Step
South Korea wants the United States and North Korea to start talking again.
Its Unification Minister said conversations are the first step toward stopping North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
Donald Trump said he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year.
Trump and Kim met three times during Trump’s first term.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, seemed unimpressed by a suggestion to reduce military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
However, she said Kim Jong-un remembers Trump positively.
South Korea also wants the Korean War to officially end and a lasting peace system to be created.
The war stopped with an armistice, but the countries never signed a peace treaty.
South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called direct US-North Korea talks the first step toward halting Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump said he maintains good relations with Kim Jong-un and plans to meet him later this year.
Kim Yo-jong appeared dismissive of reduced South Korea-US military exercises but said North Korea’s leader has good personal memories of Trump.
South Korea said ending the Korean War formally and establishing a peace regime should be the top priority.
President Lee Jae Myung proposed that the two Koreas begin talks on ending the war and building peace on the peninsula.
- Who
- South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
- What
- South Korea is urging renewed US-North Korea dialogue as a first step toward halting North Korea’s nuclear program and establishing peace.
- When
- Chung made the remarks on Thursday; Trump said Wednesday that he would meet Kim later this year.
- Where
- The remarks were made at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- South Korea says dialogue could help halt North Korea’s nuclear program, formally end the Korean War, and create a peace regime.
Dialogue and peace advocates
North Korean policy skeptics
Whether talks should begin now
Dialogue and peace advocates
South Korea’s Unification Ministry says a meeting between Washington and Pyongyang is the first gateway to stopping North Korea’s nuclear program.
North Korean policy skeptics
Kim Yo-jong’s response appeared to dismiss one US-related overture, suggesting that North Korea remains skeptical of broader US policy despite Kim Jong-un’s personal rapport with Trump.
Role of military exercises
Dialogue and peace advocates
Trump’s outreach was discussed alongside a possible reduction in South Korea-US military exercises, which could support renewed engagement.
North Korean policy skeptics
Kim Yo-jong called the reduction of those exercises unworthy of comment, indicating it did not amount to a meaningful development from North Korea’s perspective.
Priority for the peninsula
Dialogue and peace advocates
South Korea says formally ending the war and establishing a peace regime should be the top priority.
North Korean policy skeptics
The Korean War still has only an armistice, and the article does not indicate that North Korea or the United States has agreed to South Korea’s proposed peace process.
- South Korean proposal
- Direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang should begin efforts to halt North Korea’s nuclear program.
- Trump-Kim contact
- Donald Trump said he maintains good relations with Kim Jong-un and will meet him later this year.
- Previous meetings
- Trump and Kim held three bilateral meetings during Trump’s first term.
- North Korean response
- Kim Yo-jong called reducing South Korea-US military exercises unworthy of comment and said she was unaware of communication between Kim and Trump.
- Personal relationship
- Kim Yo-jong said North Korea’s leader has good memories and feelings about Trump personally.
- War status
- The 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
- Broader peace framework
- Chung said a future framework could eventually include South Korea and China.