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South Korea attempts to salvage North Korea peace talks and play mediator for Trump-Kim summit

The US president is still scheduled to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on 12 June in Singapore

Mythili Sampathkumar

New York

Thursday 17 May 2018 15:51 BST

South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha told US secretary of state Mike Pompeo they would be willing to mediate talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un (AP)

South Korea is attempting to salvage peace talks with North Korea and play mediator for the summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

“We decided to closely coordinate with both sides so that the upcoming [summit] will be held successfully with mutual respect,” a South Korean official said after Pyongyang had suspended talks with Seoul scheduled for this week.

North Korea said the ongoing US-South Korea military drills, which include F-16 fighter jets, were a “rehearsal for [an] invasion of the North and a provocation amid warming inter-Korean ties”. Ri Son Gwon, chairman of North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, also called the South Korean government “ignorant and incompetent”.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha had emergency talks after North Korea’s sudden announcement. Ms Kang assured Mr Pompeo that Seoul would “fully implement” the agreement the leaders signed and offered to mediate in order to ensure that Mr Trump and Mr Kim come to the negotiating table to discuss North Korea halting development of its nuclear weapons programme.

Analysts have said that Mr Kim’s about-face regarding better relations with South Korean president Moon Jae-in, seen just a few weeks ago smiling and raising their arms together, has less to do with calling off peace with its southern neighbour and more to do with gaining leverage with Mr Trump.

Washington insiders have said that Mr Trump showed his cards with his announcement that the US will violate the historic six-party Iran nuclear deal and impose sanctions on Tehran despite the urging of the other parties in the deal.

Mike Pompeo confident US and North Korea have 'shared understanding of ultimate objectives from summit'

“Unless the serious situation which led to the suspension of the north-south high-level talks is settled, it will never be easy to sit face to face again with the present regime of South Korea,” Mr Ri said in a statement issued by the North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Kim Kye-gwan, from North Korea’s ministry of foreign affairs, said: “If the US is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but reconsider our proceeding to the ... summit.”

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

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1/21North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Pukguksong-2 missile - 2 May 2017

A solid-fuel "Pukguksong-2" missile lifts off during its launch test in North Korea on May 22, 2017. They said that it was examining operational plans for attacking Guam, an angry reaction to UN punishment for previous North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile tests and a US suggestion about preparations for possible preventive attacks to stop the North's nuclear weapons program.

Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Hwasong-12 -16 September 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a launching drill of the medium-and-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 at an undisclosed location. Kim vowed to complete North Korea's nuclear force despite sanctions, saying the final goal of his country's weapons development is "equilibrium of real force" with the United States, state media reported on September 16, 2017.

AFP/Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Donald Trump address South Korean assembly - 7 November 2017

President Donald Trump talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-In during their joint press conference at the presidential Blue House on November 7, 2017 in Seoul.Trump was the first US President to address the South Korean National Assembly since President Clinton in 1993. He addressed Kim Jong Un warning him to not underestimate the US and that for talks to materialize then Pyongyang would need to take steps into denuclearization.

Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Demilitarized Zone

Haean-Myeon, is a small military town near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and border between North and South Korea, in Gangwon province. The zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula and was created after the 'Korean Armistice Agreement'. Any negotiations between the two countries tend to take place in this zone.

AFP/Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Declared state sponsor of terrorism by Trump - 20 November 2017

President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a cabinet meeting at the White House on November 20, 2017, where he officially designated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea had previously been on the list, however was removed in 2008.

Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile - 29 November 2017

The North Korean government launches it's Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on November 29, 2017. It is supposedly capable of reaching all parts of the US.

Korean Central News Agency via AP

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile - 29 November 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un celebrating the launch of the Hwasong-15 missile on November 29, 2017.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Kim Jong-Un New Year's speech - 1 January 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un delivering his New Year's speech. He vowed North Korea would mass-produce nuclear warheads and missiles in a defiant New Year message on January 1 suggesting he would continue to accelerate a rogue weapons programme that has stoked international tensions.

Korean Central News Agency via AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Intercontinental ballistic missile ice sculpture - 1 January 2018

Fireworks are seen above the Taedong River during New Year celebrations as visitors pose for a photo in front of an ice sculpture of an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Pyongyang Ice Sculpture Festival in Kim Il Sung Square in North Korea on 1 January, 2018.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

US-South Korean military drills postponed - 4 January 2018

South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks with US President Donald Trump on January 4, 2018 in Seoul. South Korea and US agreed to delay the annual "Foal Eagle" military drills until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in an effort to "de-conflict" the Games and "focus on ensuring the security" of the event.

South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North and South Korea have first official talks in over two years - 9 January 2018

Vehicles transporting the South Korean delegation, led by South Korean Unification Ministrer Cho Myoung-Gyon, drive past a checkpoint on the road connecting South and North Korea at the Unification Bridge, near the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating them both on January 9, 2018 in Paju. They began their first official face-to-face talks in two years.

Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North and South Korea have first official talks in over two years - 9 January 2018

Members of the South Korea delegation (R) shake hands with members of the North Korean delegation (L) during their meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on January 9, 2018. They focused on the forthcoming Winter Olympics after months of tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Foreign Ministers Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula - 16 January 2018

Foreign Ministers from twenty countries from North and South America, Asia, and Europe pose for a photo at the Vancouver Foreign Ministers Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula, in Vancouver on January 16, 2018. The US urged an escalation in pressure on North Korea over its nuclear missile program, despite a more cautious tone from key US ally South Korea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, co-hosted the event with Canada's foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, and called for North Korean ships to be intercepted and for new punitive measures to be implemented every time Pyongyang tests new weapons.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korea and South Korea to march together at Winter Olympics - 20 January 2018

PyeongChang 2018 Olympics President Lee Hee-beom, North Korea's Sports Minister and Olympic Committee president Kim Il Guk, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan and South Korea's National Olympic Committee President Lee Kee-heung join their hands as they pose during a signing ceremony at the Olympic Museum on January 20, 2018 in Lausanne. North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the South. The two nations will also march together at the opening ceremony.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Anti-North Korea activists protest delegation arrival - 22 January 2018

Anti-North Korea activists burn a portrait of leader Kim Jong-Un during a rally Seoul Station as a North Korean delegation arrived to check out performance venues for the Winter Olympics on January 22, 2018. Protesters led by the Korean Patriots Party gathered and complained that the talks to encourage North Korea's participation is stealing the spotlight from their country to the benefit of the regime.

Donga Daily via Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Panmunjom - 7 February 2018

South Korean soldiers stand guard at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea on February 7, 2018. In a sign of thawing bilateral ties, North Korea today announced that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korean ferry arrives in South Korea - 6 February 2018

North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 carrying a 140-strong orchestra approaches a port in Donghae, South Korea, February 6, 2018.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Anti-North Korea protest - 6 February 2018

A member of a conservative civic group tears a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an anti-North Korea protest as the North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 carrying a 140-strong orchestra approached.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korea at the athletes village - 8 February 2018

A North Korean flag is seen hanging on a building at the Winter Olympics athletes village in Gangneung, South Korea.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Olympic Welcome ceremony - 8 February 2018

Democratic People's Republic of Korea Vice Sports Minister Won Gil-woo receives a gift from mayor of the Olympic Village Kim Ki-hoon during the welcome ceremony ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Games at the Olympic Village on 8 February, 2018 in South Korea.

Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Mike Pence meets Moon Jae-in - 8 February 2018

US Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in before their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea on 8 February, 2018.

REUTERS

Mr Trump himself said “we will have to see” if the 12 June summit in Singapore will actually take place. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that preparations for the meeting are going through and the president is “ready”.

Among other concerns is Mr Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton, who clashed with North Korean authorities when he worked in the administration of former president George W Bush.

Mr Kim said the country has “repugnance” towards Mr Bolton, particularly after the adviser suggested the president approach the upcoming summit as the US did with Libya in 2004, when certain components of that country’s nuclear weapons programme were shipped to the US.

Mr Moon is set to meet with Mr Trump in Washington next week to discuss the Singapore summit.

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