Foreign Minister Cho Hyun delivers a keynote address at the Seoul Diplomatic Forum 2026, held Thursday at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Yonhap]
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun delivers a keynote address at the Seoul Diplomatic Forum 2026, held Thursday at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Yonhap]

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday that South Korea will work to facilitate dialogue between North Korea and the United States.

Speaking at the Seoul Diplomatic Forum at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul, Cho said in his keynote address, "We will continue our diplomatic efforts to help resume North Korea-US dialogue."

He noted that US President Donald Trump had recently signaled sustained interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula and a willingness to resume talks with North Korea through a series of messages. "We take note of this," Cho said.

"We hope that the friendly relationship between the leaders of North Korea and the United States can lead to meaningful dialogue between the two sides," he added, "and that such dialogue will in turn lead to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace."

Cho described the South Korea-US alliance as "an important foundation for our diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula," saying Seoul is expanding the alliance into areas where South Korea can make a differentiated contribution.

He acknowledged that North Korea has not responded to South Korean overtures, but said Seoul is "continuing its efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue with patience and resolve." He cited the suspension of anti-Pyongyang broadcasts and a proposal for military working-level talks as examples.

The forum, held under the theme "Changing International Order and Global Governance," drew diplomats and international law experts from various countries.


sunpine@heraldcorp.com