Seoul to seek meetings with Pyongyang to revive talks with US

The South Korean government said on Tuesday that it will seek meetings with North Korea this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on denuclearization.

The plan comes after the Hanoi summit. last month, between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended abruptly without a denuclearization deal with no further plans for the two sides to meet again, reports Efe news.

"In close coordination with the US, (we) will push for inter-Korean talks to help the US and North Korea meet again and reach an agreement on denuclearization and corresponding measures," the Unification Ministry said in a statement here.

The Ministry, in charge of managing relations with the North, added that it will continue to work towards "close communications between the leaders of the South and the North" to strengthen ties and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

After February's Hanoi summit, Seoul has showed willingness to mediate to break the blockade in the denuclearization talks.

Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held three summits that were key for making it possible for Trump and the North Korean leader to meet for the second time.

--IANS

ksk/bc