Jeong Dongyoung Highlights 'Peace Maker' Trump's Willingness... Urges Urgent Resumption of North Korea-US Summit

Minister Jeong Emphasizes Urgent Need for Resumption of North Korea-US Summit
Highlights President Trump's Role as "Peace Maker" and Unique Leadership
Warns of Growing North Korean Nuclear Threat and Calls for Renewed Dialogue
Stresses Importance of South Korea-US Alliance for Change on the Korean Peninsula

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, stated on the 26th, "It is urgent to resume the North Korea-US summit," adding, "The government of the Republic of Korea supports the prompt resumption of the North Korea-US summit. We will make active efforts to contribute to the resumption and progress of North Korea-US dialogue through inter-Korean relations."

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the "JoongAng Ilbo-CSIS Forum 2025" held on the morning of the 26th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Unification

Minister Jeong attended the "JoongAng Ilbo-CSIS Forum 2025" held on the morning of the 26th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, and delivered a congratulatory speech, saying, "Ending the state of hostility between North Korea and the United States will be the starting point for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and for a 'change in the status quo' on the Korean Peninsula." He added, "I am paying close attention to President Donald Trump's willingness to act as a peace maker and to bring about a change in the status quo."

Minister Jeong said, "With President Trump's leadership, I hope that the core agreement of the Singapore Joint Statement, the 'establishment of a new North Korea-US relationship,' will be realized in a practical way as soon as possible. I believe President Trump is the only leader who can achieve this." He particularly emphasized, "During the 80 years since the establishment of the North Korean regime, 15 US presidents have come and gone, but President Trump is the only leader who has met with the North Korean leader and held direct talks."

Minister Jeong noted, "According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), while President Trump was out of office, North Korea's number of nuclear warheads increased 2.5 times." He continued, "The number of nuclear warheads, which was estimated at 20 in 2022, is now believed to have increased to 50 as of last year." He also said, "As highlighted in a recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the additional construction of a concealed ICBM base in Sinpung-dong near the Yalu River on the North Korea-China border demonstrates that North Korea's existential threat to the US mainland is becoming a reality," once again urging the resumption of North Korea-US dialogue. He expressed his expectation, "When a virtuous cycle is established between inter-Korean relations and North Korea-US relations on the solid foundation of the South Korea-US alliance, a new history of changing the status quo after 80 years of division will begin."

Regarding the first South Korea-US summit of the new administration, which was held earlier this morning Korean time, he evaluated, "The leaders of South Korea and the United States achieved perfect consensus on cooperating to improve relations with North Korea and to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula."