Unification Minister Jeong Dongyoung: "South Korea-U.S. Leaders Aligned on Korean Peninsula Peace Strategy and Methodology"

Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung commented on the remarks regarding North Korea at the South Korea-U.S. summit on the 26th, stating, "With regard to the peace strategy for the Korean Peninsula, the leaders of South Korea and the United States were aligned in both perception and methodology."

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 26th. 2025.8.26 Photo by Yonhap News

On his way to work at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Minister Jeong responded to questions from reporters by saying, "There was an active proposal from President Lee Jaemyung for a solution through dialogue and for a North Korea-U.S. summit, and President Trump responded positively." He added, "I now look forward to the prompt resumption of a North Korea-U.S. summit," and emphasized, "Since they said they would meet within this year, it is necessary to create the right conditions."

Earlier, during the South Korea-U.S. summit held in the early morning Korean time, President Lee met with U.S. President Donald Trump and made a public statement, saying, "I sincerely hope you will open a new path to peace on the Korean Peninsula." In response, President Trump said, "Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea did not want to meet with former President Biden, but I think he would want to meet with me," adding, "I will make such an attempt."

In the subsequent closed-door meeting, President Lee reportedly invited President Trump to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju this October, and also proposed, if possible, to arrange a meeting with Chairman Kim. President Trump was said to have called it "a very wise proposal."

However, Minister Jeong commented on the possibility of a meeting between the leaders of North Korea and the United States on the occasion of this year's APEC summit, saying, "It is necessary to take advantage of President Trump's visit to South Korea," but also noted, "In order to create such an opportunity, we need to find common ground. As of now, there is none."

Regarding President Lee's suggestion during the summit that "a 'Trump World' (building) could be constructed in North Korea so that I could also play golf there," Minister Jeong said, "It was likely just an idea."