South Korea urging Biden to prioritize denuclearization talks with North

South Korea is urging President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump calls Georgia Senate runoffs 'both illegal and invalid' in New Year's tweets Judge dismisses Gohmert's election suit against Pence Ex-GOP senator suggests forming new party, calls Trump 'ringmaster' of Republicans MORE to prioritize denuclearization talks with North Korea. 

South Korea’s foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, met with some of Biden’s allies in Washington after arriving to meet with Secretary of State Mike PompeoMike PompeoMicrosoft says hackers viewed source code as part of SolarWinds attack Lawsuit targets State Department over billion weapons sale to UAE Intel vice chair says government agency cyber attack 'may have started earlier' MORE, Reuters reported, adding that she urged the Biden administration to pay “summit-level” attention to the issue. 

“I highlighted the need to reinforce diplomatic efforts to achieve the goal of completely denuclearizing the Korean peninsula given the urgency of the North Korean nuclear issue,” she said, according to Reuters.

“I put a particular emphasis on the importance of a swift restart of U.S.-North Korea dialogue ... as an issue that requires a priority, summit-level interests," she added.

President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump calls Georgia Senate runoffs 'both illegal and invalid' in New Year's tweets Judge dismisses Gohmert's election suit against Pence Ex-GOP senator suggests forming new party, calls Trump 'ringmaster' of Republicans MORE held two summits with North Korea’s Kim Jong UnKim Jong UnKim Jong Un thanks North Koreans for their support 'in difficult times' in his first New Year's cards to the public Biden needs a failed states strategy Overnight Defense: Biden team voices concern about 'abrupt halt' in Pentagon cooperation | Defense chief pushes back | Lawmakers question whether major cyberattack an act of war MORE, and also met with Kim at the demilitarized zone between North Korea and South Korea. 

Their first summit ended with a declaration that the nations would work toward denuclearization. The second concluded without a concrete deal, and efforts to revive talks have faltered since then.

North Korea resumed missile testing and has continued improving its missile and nuclear arsenals. Earlier in October, it unveiled a massive new intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade.

Biden said in October during the third presidential debate that he would meet with Kim under the condition that “he would be drawing down his nuclear capacity.”