"(The senators) expressed both misgivings and hope over the recent momentum for dialogue created by the Olympics," the minister said.

The planned summits are the outcome of a series of inter-Korean meetings that began in January after Kim expressed an interest in sending a delegation to last month's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Among the senators were Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Ed Markey (D-MA), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia.

On her meeting with Trump's daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka, earlier in the day, Kang said they had a "very good conversation" over lunch. The two met in South Korea when Ivanka Trump led the US delegation to the closing ceremony of the Winter Games.

The minister later met with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and other lawmakers, including Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

On Friday, she is set to meet with Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, who is serving as acting secretary in the wake of Rex Tillerson's dismissal earlier this week.

It was uncertain whether Kang would meet with secretary-designate Mike Pompeo, but officials said chances were low as the Central Intelligence Agency chief has yet to win Senate confirmation.

During her three-day stay, the minister also plans to speak by phone with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to discuss trade issues, including the ongoing renegotiation of the Korea-US free trade agreement and Washington's recent announcement of tariffs on steel imports. (Yonhap)