A senior South Korean figure identified only as Lee met former U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, seeking the American’s help to re‑ignite diplomatic talks with North Korea, The Diplomat reported.
Lee’s request came amid a prolonged lull in inter‑Korean dialogue, which has remained stalled since the last high‑level exchange earlier this year. By appealing directly to Trump, Lee appears to be exploring alternative channels to break the deadlock, given the former president’s expressed interest in North Korean affairs and his perceived influence over Washington’s policy stance.
Trump, who has previously floated the idea of a personal summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, did not publicly comment on the specifics of Lee’s appeal. Nonetheless, his past statements suggest a willingness to engage in back‑channel diplomacy, a factor that may have motivated Lee’s outreach.
The meeting took place in New York, where both men were attending separate events linked to the UN General Assembly’s annual session. While details of the conversation remain limited, The Diplomat noted that Lee emphasized the strategic importance of a renewed dialogue for regional stability and urged Trump to leverage his contacts in Washington to facilitate a restart of negotiations.
U.S. officials have not confirmed any formal involvement in mediating the proposed talks, and the State Department has declined to comment on whether Trump’s personal outreach would translate into official policy action. Analysts cited by The Diplomat caution that any revival of inter‑Korean talks would require coordinated effort among multiple stakeholders, including the United States, South Korea, and China.
The appeal underscores the challenges facing diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula, where mistrust and divergent security concerns have repeatedly hampered progress. Whether Trump’s influence can meaningfully contribute to a breakthrough remains uncertain, but Lee’s outreach signals a willingness to pursue unconventional avenues in pursuit of renewed engagement with Pyongyang.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by The Diplomat — original source: https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/lee-asks-trump-to-help-revive-north-korea-talks-during-new-york-trip/.