S. Korea, US diplomats stress 'close' communication on NK, peninsula peace

SEOUL/WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States have agreed to continue "close" communication and cooperation to address North Korea's nuclear issue and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula during a call, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held phone talks on Monday (Seoul time), as U.S. President Donald Trump recently declined to answer a question about whether his goal in reengaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is denuclearization, spawning concerns that the United States could acknowledge the North as a nuclear-armed state.

In a press release on their talks, the ministry did not mention whether the chief diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's denuclearization despite the two sides' emphasis on the importance of cooperation on North Korea's nuclear quandary.

"The minister and secretary agreed to continue close communication and cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of North Korea's nuclear issue while maintaining a solid combined defense posture," the ministry said inthe release.

In particular, Cho said that the South Korean government will do its best to help ensure that Trump's recent message for North Korea will lead to the resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, and peace on the peninsula, according to the ministry.

The minister was apparently referring to Trump's remarks last week that he expects to meet Kim later this month.

Trump's remarks followed his directive earlier this month to scale back South Korea-U.S. military exercises -- a move seen as a conciliatory gesture toward Pyongyang.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump is seeking a meeting with Kim, which could take place during his next trip to Asia, likely for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November.

Pointing to recent shifts in international circumstances, the top diplomats reaffirmed their shared understanding that close communication between South Korea and the U.S. is "more important than ever," the ministry said.

They also agreed to work together to further elevate bilateral relations by achieving "mutually beneficial" outcomes on various pending issues, including tariffs, an investment agreement and security cooperation, it said.

During the call, Cho underscored the Seoul government's commitment to making substantive contributions to help restore free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while noting the active leadership of President Trump and the U.S. in addressing the Middle East issue.

Rubio explained U.S. efforts to restore peace and stability in the Middle East, the ministry said.

Cho and Rubio agreed to meet in the near future to have in-depth discussions on key pending issues.