Seoul: The unification ministry said it is discussing joint cooperation measures between Seoul and Washington aimed at ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula, which will be presented during a scheduled summit between the South Korean and the U.S. presidents.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, mentioned during a regular press briefing that the ministry is in close consultation with relevant bodies on bilateral cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of inter-Korean ties. Her remarks followed Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's announcement that a proposal on North Korea will be drafted for the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for later this month.
Chung compared the envisioned proposal to "MASGA," or "Make America Shipbuilding Great Again," a phrase previously used by the South Korean negotiating team in a tariff reduction deal with Washington. This slogan was significant in securing the deal by aligning with Trump's interests in reviving the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
Chang reaffirmed that Seoul remains open to dialogue with North Korea to peacefully resolve nuclear issues and supports resuming talks between Washington and Pyongyang. She emphasized that both South Korea and the U.S. are open to dialogue with North Korea to foster peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The government has consistently expressed its proactive support for resuming North Korea-U.S. talks. This statement was in response to U.S. State Department acting deputy assistant secretary Seth Bailey's remarks, which showed interest in a recent statement by Kim Yo-jong, sister of the North Korean leader. Kim suggested North Korea's openness to diplomacy with the U.S., provided it does not aim at the country's "complete denuclearization."