South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Thursday, 3 September 2026 pledged that Seoul would press ahead with diplomatic efforts to restore dialogue between North Korea and the United States, citing US President Donald Trump's stated willingness to re-engage with Pyongyang. The remarks came at the Seoul Diplomacy Forum 2026, hosted by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy under the theme 'Changing International Order and Global Governance.'

Key Remarks from the Forum

Delivering the keynote address, Cho said Seoul would not step back from its facilitative role. 'We will continue our diplomatic efforts to facilitate the resumption of the US-DPRK dialogue,' he said, using North Korea's official name — the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He pointed directly to signals from Washington: 'We take note of President Trump's continued interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula and his willingness to resume dialogue with the DPRK, as reflected in his recent messages.'

Trump's Overtures to Kim Jong-un

The minister's remarks follow a notable shift in tone from Washington. Last month, Trump publicly expressed his intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year and ordered the scaling back of a major South Korea-US joint military exercise, citing what he described as a 'very good' relationship with Kim. The move drew mixed reactions in Seoul and among US allies in the region, but Cho framed it as an opening rather than a concession.

'We also expect that such dialogue will pave the way for complete denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula,' Cho said.

Inter-Korean Relations: Seoul's Olive Branch Unanswered

Cho acknowledged that direct inter-Korean engagement remains stalled. Despite Seoul's repeated overtures, Pyongyang has shown no response to South Korea's calls for resumed inter-Korean dialogue. The minister said the government remained committed to that track regardless, signalling that Seoul intends to pursue both bilateral and multilateral channels simultaneously.

This comes amid a broader pattern of North Korean diplomatic isolation — Pyongyang has largely refused direct engagement with the South since formal inter-Korean communication lines were severed in 2020.

Modernising Alliances Beyond Security

Beyond the Korean Peninsula, Cho outlined a broader ambition for South Korea's international role. 'We are working to modernise the alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive partnership,' he said, adding that cooperation is expanding into civilian nuclear activities, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and shipbuilding — sectors where South Korea holds a competitive edge.

The minister stressed that enhancing national capabilities was essential for South Korea to position itself as a 'key, valuable partner' within its alliance architecture and wider international partnerships. The forum appearance signals Seoul's intent to remain an active diplomatic actor even as the US pursues its own direct channel with Pyongyang.

How far Trump's renewed interest in Kim translates into substantive talks — and whether Seoul can maintain relevance in a bilateral US-DPRK process — will be the defining diplomatic question for the peninsula in the months ahead.