U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell says all South Korea’s presidential candidates have a strong will to resume dialogue with North Korea.

Campbell made the remarks on Thursday during a forum at Georgetown University in Washington on the future of U.S.-Asia relations, saying he recently visited South Korea and had a chance to talk to key officials of the presidential contenders’ camps.

The U.S. official said now is a very critical time as presidential elections are scheduled in South Korea and the U.S. and China are also facing changes in leadership. He added that the next U.S. administration would have to swiftly seek cooperation and talks with South Korea on the North Korean issue.