South Korea's unification minister has urged US President Donald Trump to meet with the North Korean leader during his upcoming visit to Asia, Reuters reports.
He suggested the two men seize a rare opportunity for peace.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-yong, who is Seoul's top political figure on inter-Korean relations, said Trump's trip to South Korea was a "heaven-blessed opportunity" that could help bolster North Korea's global standing and its economy.
"The leaders of North Korea and the US should not miss this chance," Chun insisted. "They have to make a bold decision".
Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un three times during his previous term but failed to reach an agreement to end Pyongyang's nuclear program due to differences over sanctions relief and how to dismantle the North's nuclear facilities.
Officials in Seoul, including South Korean President Lee Jae-myeon, were skeptical about the possibility of another meeting next week but welcomed the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough with Pyongyang if it happened.
Trump leaves Washington tonight for a five-day trip that will take him to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea - his first visit to the region since taking office in January.
Chun said the visit was a chance to bypass the preparations and coordination normally required for a meeting between the leaders of the two countries, which would otherwise make it very difficult to see each other. them.
"This would help North Korea's international status and improve the lives of its people, and therefore it is necessary to ensure peace and stability, and this is only possible through a meeting with President Trump," he noted.
Trump met Kim in the village of Panmunjom, located on the inter-Korean border, in 2019, in a hastily arranged trip immediately after his visit to Japan for a world summit.