South Korea Mediates Between the US and North Korea

One day after North Korea threatened to reconsider negotiations with the United States in the event of "one-sided pressure" for nuclear disarmament, Seoul stated it is working to bridge the gap between Pyongyang and Washington. The South Korean National Security Council announced on May 17 that it is striving to return to negotiations with North Korea. This council stated that it is in contact with Washington and Pyongyang to lay the groundwork for a "successful negotiation" between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. An official from Moon Jae-in's office, the President of South Korea, said that Seoul intends to take further actions and activities for "mediation" between the US and North Korea. On Wednesday, the North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister unexpectedly announced that if pressures continue on his country to "unilaterally" abandon its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang would reconsider upcoming negotiations with the United States. As Donald Trump previously wrote on Twitter, he and the North Korean leader are scheduled to meet and discuss in Singapore on June 12, almost a month from now. Kim Kye-gwan, the North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister, stated on May 16, "If (the US) wants us to engage in negotiations that completely corner us and make one-sided demands for us to abandon our nuclear weapons, we will no longer be interested in negotiations." US officials had emphasized that "all options remain on the table" even after the US President accepted the North Korean leader's invitation, and Washington's stance towards the North Korean regime would not change until serious actions towards nuclear disarmament are taken. A day before the North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister's remarks, the country also suspended negotiations with South Korea that were scheduled for Wednesday. Pyongyang stated that it suspended talks with Seoul in response to the US-South Korea military exercises. Despite this, the South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that joint exercises would take place. The Chinese Foreign Minister, North Korea's main ally, stated on May 17 that North Korea's recent actions to "reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula" should be "recognized and considered," and all parties, especially the US, should value the opportunity for achieving peace. The day before, Donald Trump, in response to North Korea's threat regarding the cessation of negotiations with the US, confirmed that it is unclear whether his meeting with Kim Jong-un will take place or not. He also emphasized that Washington seeks the denuclearization of Pyongyang. A White House spokesperson stated in an interview with Fox News that if no talks are held with North Korea, the US will continue to apply "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang.