South Korea and US seek to revive talks with North Korea as Kim Jong-un rejects Trump letter

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 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 US President Donald Trump.

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

The remarks followed a report by the US-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 US officials. While declining to comment directly on Trump’s letter, Lee emphasised 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, emphasising denuclearisation 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 on Wednesday.

She neither confirmed nor denied reports of Kim’s refusal.