Direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang are the first step toward halting North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday. He made the remarks while meeting with reporters at the government complex in Seoul, amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump might seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which produced three bilateral meetings during his first term. "The first gateway to stopping North Korea's nuclear program is a meeting between the two sides, and we should work hard to support it," he said. "Halting the program is in the best interest of everyone involved," Chung added. Trump reiterated Wednesday (U.S. time) that he maintains good relations with Kim, and said he will meet the North Korean leader later this year, without providing further details. "Now is the time for the U.S. and North Korea, and time for Trump and Kim," Chung said, adding he hoped "the momentum between the two sides gets on track and expands into a framework" that eventually includes South Korea and China as well. Chung