What did South Korea say about a possible Trump-Kim summit?

The unification ministry said such a meeting, if realized, is expected to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and could shift inter-Korean relations toward reconciliation and cooperation. The official said that is the ministry’s consistent position on any possible U.S.-North Korea summit.

Why does Seoul want to act as a pacemaker in U.S.-North Korea talks?

Seoul said it is ready to help facilitate renewed dialogue and noted there could be various ways to do that, including through a peace envoy. The ministry said it would keep consulting relevant government agencies to further develop the plan.

How did Trump’s military drill decision affect the North Korea talks atmosphere?

The remarks came after Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had responded to his dialogue overture, following his order to substantially reduce South Korea-U.S. military exercises. Trump described his exchange with Kim as very positive, though he gave no further details.

Trump-Kim summit could boost peace on Korean Peninsula: Seoul official

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Summary

The unification ministry on Tuesday said a Trump-Kim summit, if realized, could help bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula and move inter-Korean ties toward reconciliation and cooperation. The ministry called this its consistent position on any potential U.S.-North Korea summit. Seoul also said it is ready to act as a pacemaker to help resume dialogue, including through a peace envoy. The remarks followed Trump’s claim that Kim Jong-un had responded to his overture for dialogue and his order to substantially reduce South Korea-U.S. military exercises.

Key Facts

Trump said on Monday that Kim Jong-un had responded to his overture for dialogue, describing the exchange as very positive.
Trump ordered a substantial reduction in South Korea-U.S. military exercises a day before the ministry’s remarks.
The ministry official said Seoul is ready to serve as a pacemaker in facilitating renewed dialogue between North Korea and the United States.
The ministry said it will continue close consultations with relevant government agencies to further develop the pacemaker plan.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 18, 2026 1:56 pm KST
Updated Aug 18, 2026 4:15 pm KST

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un stand on North Korean soil while walking to South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) in Panmunjeom, June 30, 2019. Yonhap

The unification ministry on Tuesday expressed hope for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stressing that such a meeting, if held, may help bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula.

"If realized, it is expected to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and to a shift toward a phase of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation," a ministry official told reporters.

It is also the ministry's "consistent" position on any potential summit between North Korea and the United States, the official added.

The remarks come after Trump on Monday (U.S. time) said the North Korean leader has responded to his overture for dialogue, a day after he ordered a substantial reduction in South Korea-U.S. military exercises, seen as a reconciliatory gesture toward Pyongyang.

Asked to elaborate on his exchange with Kim, Trump described it as "very positive," without providing further details.

On the potential resumption of dialogue, the ministry official said Seoul is ready to serve as a "pacemaker" in helping facilitate it, adding there would be "various ways" to fulfill that role, including through a peace envoy.

The ministry will continue close consultations with relevant government agencies to further develop the pacemaker plan, the official said.

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