Trump Shares Photos with Kim Jong-un Again; ROK-US Phone Call Omits 'Denuclearization'

[Anchor]

US President Donald Trump has once again posted photos of himself with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on social media. As he repeatedly sends signals for dialogue toward Kim, the statements released following a phone call between the foreign ministers of South Korea and the US last night (the 24th) notably omitted any mention of denuclearization.

Reporter Kim Ayeong has the details.

[Reporter]

US President Donald Trump posted three photos of himself with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on social media yesterday, local time.

The photos include one of them walking together at a hotel in Singapore during the first North Korea-US summit in June 2018, and two from their meeting at Panmunjom in June 2019.

This marks the third time since last June that President Trump has shared photographs featuring Kim Jong-un.

He has not once posted pictures from the February 2019 Hanoi summit, which collapsed without any tangible results and could be considered an embarrassing chapter for Kim.

While President Trump continues to send signals to Chairman Kim to resume dialogue, the foreign ministers of South Korea and the US held a phone conversation lasting about 30 minutes last night.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized South Korea's role as a pacemaker, stating that the government will do its utmost to ensure President Trump's recent messages lead to the resumption of North Korea-US dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Following the phone call, the US State Department released a brief two-sentence statement, noting only that Secretary of State Rubio highlighted the need for both nations to maintain close coordination on issues vital to the alliance.

Neither side's released statements contained any reference to denuclearization.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the stance as follows:

[Voice / Park Doo-soon, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a consistent position maintained between South Korea and the US, and the government will continue to make efforts to achieve substantive progress in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.]

North Korea has not issued any specific response following consecutive public statements directed at the US and South Korea released by Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, on the 19th and 20th, appearing to have entered another period of reticence.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
(Video Reported by Cho Choon-dong | Video Edited by Kim Ho-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.