South Korea has expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining its own security and ensuring it is not marginalized in the process. Speaking on Friday, South Korea’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, underscored Seoul’s position that renewed talks between Washington and Pyongyang should concentrate on advancing denuclearization and establishing a peace framework on the Korean Peninsula.

Wi stressed that close coordination and communication between South Korea and the United States are vital to achieving these goals. He pointed to Trump’s recent directive to substantially reduce the scale of joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea as a sign of the U.S. willingness to engage North Korea diplomatically. However, Wi cautioned that South Korea must avoid being sidelined in Washington’s efforts to push for a new summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, noting that the two held three summits in 2018 and 2019.

Trump’s decision to cut short the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills earlier this month was partly attributed to Seoul’s refusal to assist in the Iran conflict, with the U.S. president suggesting that the scaled-back exercises were intended to send a more positive signal to Pyongyang. Despite this reduction, South Korea announced on Friday that it will conduct trilateral military drills with Japan and the United States from September 9 to 11, aimed at testing readiness against North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats.

In addition to supporting dialogue efforts, South Korea is seeking to strengthen cooperation with Washington on several issues that have previously caused tension between the allies. These include South Korean investments in the U.S. under a trade agreement, regulatory treatment of the American e-commerce company Coupang, broader security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and the transfer of wartime operational control.

Wi’s remarks highlight Seoul’s intent to balance advancing diplomatic engagement with North Korea while safeguarding its security interests and maintaining a collaborative relationship with the United States.