Rubio-N Korea

By Chang Dong-woo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if Pyongyang is willing to discuss issues of concern to Washington and its allies, but no meeting has been scheduled, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday.

Rubio made the remarks during a press conference following a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta.

"I think the president's perspective is, if North Korea and Kim Jong-un is prepared to talk with the United States about issues that are of concern to us and of concern to our allies, like South Korea, he would be open to doing it," Rubio said.

"Nothing has been scheduled. I do not have anything to announce in regards to that today," he added.

His remarks came amid persistent speculations over the possibility of renewed diplomacy between Trump and Kim, who held three meetings during Trump's first presidential term.

The comments also followed trilateral talks among Rubio and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Atlanta on Friday, during which the three top diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

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