North Korean senior official Kim Yong Chol on Monday reiterated Pyongyang’s willingness to hold talks with Washington “several times” at a luncheon hosted by South Korean Chief of National Security Office (NSO) Chung Eui-yong.

“The door for dialogue with the U.S. remains open,” Kim reportedly said, quoted by a senior official at the South Korean presidential office speaking to media on condition of anonymity.

“He said ‘we have expressed several times that we are willing to have talks with the U.S.,’” the senior South Korean official said.

Kim serves as vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK)