By Lee Hana

The U.S. and North Korea could be nearing a breakthrough after months of stalled dialogue thanks to the exchange of personal letters between the leaders of both countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on June 23 briefed the media at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland about U.S. President Donald Trump sending a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pompeo said he was hopeful that the letter would provide a "good foundation" to continue discussions with the North on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

On recommencing working-level talks between both sides, Pompeo said "(The U.S.) is ready to go at a moment's notice if the North Koreans indicate they are prepared for those discussions," adding that Pyeongyang's response to the letter suggested that resumption of dialogue was “a very real possibility.”

The same day, The Rodong Sinmun, the official daily of the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party, published news of Trump's letter on the front page. Kim was quoted as praising Trump's political judgment and courage, saying he would "seriously contemplate the letter's interesting content."

Additional information on the letter's content was not disclosed.

On June 11, Trump said he received a letter from Kim, and though he declined to say what was in the letter, the American president said "something will happen that's going to be very positive."

Following the failed summit from Feb. 27-28 in Hanoi, Vietnam, between Pyeongyang and Washington, news of the letter has raised hopes of restarting talks between the two sides.

hlee10@korea.kr