The ministry’s statement stressed the importance of seeking ways to make talks between North Korea and the US work for the common goal of complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean peninsula.

During a phone talk with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Secretary Pompeo explained the reasons for the "delayed visit", saying North Korea and the US need to closely cooperate to keep a momentum on dialog and to pursue denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula.

Pompeo said Thursday he would be returning to North Korea to pursue the final fully-verified denuclearization of North Korea. US President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday that insufficient progress was being made in dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear program, asking Pompeo to cancel the trip.