U.S. Secretary of State: “Foreign policy will remain unchanged even if the midterms are lost” ... What is his stance on North Korea-U.S. talks and South Korean lawmakers’ visa issues?

[Financial News] U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “U.S. President Donald Trump is open to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but no meeting has been scheduled yet.” Regarding recent complications in issuing visas to some South Korean lawmakers, he said, “We’ll resolve the matter through consultations between the two countries.”
On the 31st local time, Secretary Rubio held a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on the sidelines of the Group of Twenty (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting. He said, “President Trump’s view is that he is open to such talks if North Korea and Chairman Kim are ready to discuss issues of concern to our allies, including the United States and South Korea.” He added, “There are no meetings scheduled at present, and there is nothing to announce on that front,” but stressed that “President Trump met with Chairman Kim twice during his first term” and that “the president would be willing to meet again if the talks could produce a productive outcome.”
A question was also raised at the press conference: “There are concerns that tensions could arise in U.S.-South Korea relations, including over lawmakers’ visa issues in South Korea.” Rubio responded, “We’ll work to resolve the visa issues,” adding, “I understand that one individual’s visa issue was related to actions from decades ago.” He went on to say, “The visa issue will be resolved through consultations between the two countries, not at a press conference.”
Asked about the Korean Peninsula, as well as whether President Trump would resume large-scale military operations targeting Iran after the midterm elections, Secretary Rubio said, “Nothing has been decided yet.” He also replied, “Negotiations to end the war have, in fact, never been suspended. Sometimes the sides negotiate directly, but active dialogue often continues through mediators.” He said, “We prefer to resolve the Iran issue diplomatically and peacefully. Otherwise, we would have attacked that regime weeks or months ago,” and explained that “President Trump believes the United States remains the most powerful military force on Earth and has the ability to take military action if necessary.”
Rubio also said that the Trump administration’s foreign policy would not change much even if the Democrats took control of Congress in the U.S. midterm elections, where Republicans appear likely to lose. He said, “Congress has a role in foreign policy. I served in that role for a long time as a senator, so I know well what Congress can and cannot do.” He added, “Whether the Democrats or the Republicans are in control, foreign policy is ultimately driven largely by the executive branch.”
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter