Seoul Leans Toward Holding Summit Between Washington and Pyongyang: “Could Happen at Any Time”

Seoul has raised the possibility of holding a summit between Pyongyang and Washington, amid emerging signs of dialogue between the two sides. South Korean Vice Minister Yun Kun-young told reporters, citing a briefing from the National Intelligence Service, “Regarding a summit between North Korea and the United States, the possibility of it taking place at any time has been assessed as plausible.” He added that the analysis did not include “any concrete facts about communications between the two sides, but there are indications that a dialogue is underway.”

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously floated the idea of holding a new meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but Pyongyang remained silent on the matter, while analysts doubted that talks between the two sides were imminent. In August, Trump provided an official estimate of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal, stating that it possessed 57 nuclear warheads.

Since then, Pyongyang has affirmed that Kim has “good memories and feelings” toward Trump, and that their relationship remains “excellent,” but it has not clearly responded to the U.S. president’s invitation to meet with the North Korean leader. Trump’s comments on the possibility of a meeting coincided with Washington’s decision to reduce the scope and duration of joint military exercises with Seoul last August.

Notably, Trump and Kim have previously met three times during the first term of the U.S. president.