South Korean president Moon Jae-in on Tuesday highlighted the need for a second meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
In his weekly cabinet briefing, Moon said that the issue of denuclearisation has to be resolved through negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, adding that Seoul would not be able to mediate between the two countries if they did not communicate actively, Yonhap News Agency reported.
"Complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is basically an issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the North and the United States. But we cannot but work to mediate and promote (U.S.-North Korea dialogue) in the middle until talks and communication between the North and the U.S. become more active," he added.
The South Korean president called on the leaders of the US and North Korea to meet again to make "bold decisions." He urged Pyongyang to continue fulfilling its commitment on achieving denuclearisation, and Washington to create a conducive atmosphere with proper measures.
"President Trump, as well as Chairman Kim Jong-un, are asking me to play such a role," Moon stated, and expressed hope that a sincere dialogue would be resumed early between the US and North Korea.
"Now, if we are to move up to a higher level, where we will dismantle the nuclear (arsenal) currently possessed by North Korea, we once again need bold ideas and decisions by the two leaders of North Korea and the United States," he continued.
Kim and Trump had met for the first time in Singapore in June, where the former expressed his commitment to abandon the regime's nuclear development programme, in exchange for security and economic guarantees.
Last month, Trump had cancelled US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned trip to North Korea, saying that not "enough progress" was being made in the denuclearisation talks.
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