Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday he "strongly" hopes for the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the United States, saying the South Korean military will support it with "powerful might." Ahn made the remarks during the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), as U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year. "I strongly hope that dialogue between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un bears fruit despite various challenges," Ahn said. "The South Korean military will support the move with powerful might," he said, adding the military will support South Korea's "pacemaker role" as described by President Lee Jae Myung in promoting the resumption of dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington. The remarks come after Trump instructed the Pentagon to scale down the joint S. Korea-U.S. military exercises last month, in what appears to be a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea. Lee said he concurs with Trump's efforts to create conditions for dialogue with Pyongyang and expressed his respect for the decision to