South Korea vows to mediate U.S.-North Korea talks and boost bilateral ties
Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha told a Washington ceremony that Seoul will help the United States and North Korea restart confidence-building talks, calling peace on the peninsula a top priority.
At a Washington celebration of Korean National Day and Armed Forces Day, Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to facilitating confidence-building measures between the United States and North Korea, describing peninsula peace as the Republic of Korea's top priority. She said South Korea will serve as a pacemaker, helping to set the stage for constructive talks that could eventually lead to a formal end to the 1950-53 war and complete denuclearisation.
Kang also referenced President Donald Trump's expressed hope to meet Kim Jong-un within the year, underscoring Seoul's close coordination with Washington on North Korea policy. The ambassador noted an upcoming conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control of U.S. forces to Seoul as a milestone in modernising the alliance. She added that the $350 billion South Korean investment in the United States, outlined in last year's trade agreement, is taking shape with specific projects that will create high-paying jobs in both nations.
Why it matters
South Korea's mediation could revive stalled U.S.-North Korea talks and deepen economic ties with the United States.
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