S. Korea Appeals to Trump as N. Korea Dismisses Peace Efforts

(MENAFN) South Korea has turned to US President Donald Trump for assistance in reigniting stalled negotiations with North Korea after Pyongyang dismissed Seoul’s recent peace efforts.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun revealed that Seoul has been working closely with Washington on the possibility of reviving talks with the North. He shared details of his early-August meetings with US officials in Washington, emphasizing continued coordination.

Yet, on Thursday, North Korea outright rejected Seoul’s conciliatory gestures, including the dismantling of propaganda loudspeakers along their shared border.

"The rulers of Seoul have some object(ive) in building up the public opinion while embellishing their new policy toward" North Korea, declared Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Following his inauguration in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung swiftly moved to rebuild trust and resume dialogue with Pyongyang, sharply contrasting the hardline stance of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol. Seoul also halted the distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets and postponed portions of joint military drills with the United States.

Despite these concessions, Pyongyang remains unmoved. "Such a trick is nothing but a 'pipedream' and it does not arouse our interest at all," Kim said in a statement carried by North Korean state media. She further dismissed South Korea’s military claims that North Korea had removed some propaganda loudspeakers.

Regarding joint military exercises, Kim stated, "As to the joint military drills, it is pretending hard to make proactive efforts for detente, talking about adjustment and postponement. But it does not deserve praise and will prove futile."

The US and South Korean militaries plan to conduct the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise from August 18 to 28, though nearly half of the 40 planned drills have been deferred to next month as part of Seoul’s reconciliation efforts.

Despite Pyongyang’s rebuff, South Korea remains committed to normalizing relations. Officials say Seoul will continue to pursue dialogue and peace with North Korea.

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