Trump's leadership could find breakthrough in long-stalled N. Korea nuclear talks: S. Korea's foreign minister

U.S. President Donald Trump's leadership could help find a breakthrough in the long-stalled North Korea nuclear talks, South Korea's foreign minister says.

But he also pointed out that North Korea as a nuclear-armed state won't be acceptable to Washington.

Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports.

The United States would not accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

This, is what South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Thursday, while speaking to reporters.

He shared his views on a variety of issues, including Pyongyang-Washington ties.

According to Cho, during last month's visit to Washington, he conveyed his view to the U.S. that he hopes U.S. President Donald Trump's leadership could help find a new breakthrough in the long-stalled nuclear talks with the North.

He also underlined that there could be a tug of war before any breakthrough.

"North Korea would want to talk with the U.S. as a nuclear-armed state, but the U.S.' stance is that the North cannot have nuclear weapons. So it's going to take a lot of back-and-forth."

Strategic flexibility and alliance modernization were among the hot topics reporters asked Cho.

He declined to give details ahead of the summit, but did point out that the ROK-U.S. alliance needs an expansion in technology, as the world has changed a lot.

"I think expanding and deepening the South Korea–U.S. alliance into a comprehensive future-oriented alliance that encompasses technologies like nuclear power, shipbuilding, AI, quantum, and biotechnology—as part of a broader tech alliance—is the right way to effectively utilize the alliance in response to the current challenging and changing international order."

When it comes to President Lee Jae Myung visiting Japan before the U.S., he said this was possible, as the government underlines practicality.

And for China,.. Cho did say there are fundamental differences between Seoul and Beijing, but emphasized the need to engage more to overcome such differences based on a pragmatic approach.

Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.