S. Korea in 'close contact' with US amid report of Kim snubbing Trump's letter

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talk before a meeting at the Demilitarized Zone in Panmunjeom in this June 30, 2019 photo. AFP-Yonhap

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday it is working closely with the United States to revive dialogue with North Korea, amid reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently rejected a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump.

"South Korea and the United States are maintaining close communication at all levels on North Korea policy, including U.S.-North Korea dialogue. The U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to coordination on multiple occasions," Lee Jae-woong, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said.

The remarks followed a report by the U.S.-based outlet NK News that North Korean diplomats at their mission to the United Nations in New York refused to accept the letter despite repeated delivery attempts by U.S. officials.

While declining to comment directly on Trump’s letter, Lee emphasized the ministry's ongoing efforts to reopen communication with Pyongyang to ease tensions and build trust.

Although South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs, would not comment on the issue, the foreign ministry's stance marks a stark contrast to the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yoon's government adopted a hardline stance against Pyongyang, emphasizing denuclearization over engagement and often responding to North Korea's escalating missile tests with stepped-up joint military drills, leading to a significant deterioration of inter-Korean communication channels and increasingly heated rhetoric from both sides.

The foreign ministry’s remarks came hours after the White House said Trump remains open to talks with Kim, following the media report.

"The president remains receptive to correspondence with Kim Jong-un and would like to see progress made at the Singapore summit," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing, Wednesday (local time). She neither confirmed nor denied reports of Kim’s refusal.

This is Trump's first known attempt to reach out to Pyongyang since beginning his second term in January. During his first term, he exchanged several communications characterized as "personal letters" with Kim and held three in-person meetings focused on denuclearization, though the talks ultimately collapsed without an agreement.

Anticipation is high that Trump will revisit his unfinished legacy with North Korea during his second term, although the timing remains unclear.

Observers believe that his earlier-than-expected outreach could raise concerns in Seoul about being sidelined in U.S.-North Korea diplomacy. South Korean officials were reportedly unaware of Trump's latest letter.

If the reports are accurate, North Korea's refusal to accept the letter are seen by some as a calculated move aimed at gaining leverage in any future negotiations.

A South Korean military facility equipped with loudspeakers used for anti-North Korea broadcasts is seen in a border area of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Yonhap

The U.S. leader's overture comes at a sensitive moment, as President Lee Jae-myung seeks to revive inter-Korean engagement after years of deadlock under his conservative predecessor Yoon.

As part of those efforts, Lee ordered the military to turn off its propaganda loudspeakers aimed at the North on Wednesday. North Korea appeared to reciprocate on Thursday by silencing its loudspeakers along the border — a possible sign of thaw after a year of tit-for-tat broadcasts.

"There were no areas where North Korea’s loudspeaker broadcasts were detected today," South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

A military official noted that North Korea’s broadcasts had varied by location and time, with the last one heard late Wednesday night.

Lee vowed to restore inter-Korean communication channels promptly with an aim to prevent potential clashes.

"We will put an end to wasteful acts of hostility and resume dialogue and cooperation," Lee said in a congratulatory message marking the 25th anniversary of the 2000 inter-Korean summit. The message was delivered by senior presidential secretary for political affairs Woo Sang-ho during a commemorative event held in Seoul.

While some see North Korea's apparent conciliatory response to the South's suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts as a hopeful sign, prospects for meaningful dialogue remain uncertain.

In recent years, North Korea has refused to engage in dialogue with either South Korea or the United States, while steadily advancing its nuclear capabilities and strengthening military ties with Russia.

Pyongyang and Moscow signed a strategic partnership agreement last June, and North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday, the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim sent a congratulatory letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day, which falls on June 12.

"It is the unshakable will of the government of the DPRK and of my own to steadfastly carry on DPRK-Russia relations," Kim said in the letter, according to KCNA. DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name.

"I and the DPRK will always stand with you and the Russian Federation," he added.