Minister Kim Young-ho said, "It is difficult to go to Washington without going through North Korea and Seoul."

Unification Minister Kim Young-ho said it would be difficult for North Korea to go to Washington without going through Seoul.

Minister Kim appeared on KBS Sunday Diagnostic Live today (17th) and said, "It is true that there are concerns that the U.S.-North Korea dialogue could take place with 'passing' South Korea."

"The government is responding under a solid South Korea-U.S. cooperation system," he said. "If the U.S.-North Korea dialogue takes place, the two countries should closely coordinate in advance."

Minister Kim also stressed that no matter how much Trump values personal diplomacy, NATO or South Korea's position should also be considered to hold dialogue with the U.S. at a time when North Korea has sent troops to the war in Ukraine.

Regarding concerns that North Korea may try to attract recognition or disarmament talks from the U.S., he said, "We cannot accept disarmament talks that tolerate North Korea's nuclear weapons, and if we tolerate North Korea's nuclear weapons, there is a high possibility that the NPT will collapse due to other countries developing nuclear weapons."