Pyongyang: The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced that while personal ties between North Korea and United States leaders are "not bad," the country will not engage in denuclearization talks.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the ruling party's Central Committee, made these remarks amid U.S. President Donald Trump's expression of intent to reengage with the North Korean leader. She stated that while the relationship between the North Korean leader and the U.S. president is amicable, it does not translate into progress toward denuclearization.
Kim's statement, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), highlighted that any personal rapport between the leaders should not be misconstrued as a step towards denuclearization. She emphasized that viewing the leaders' relationship as such would only serve as a "mockery" of intentions. Kim also reiterated North Korea's position as a nuclear state, insisting on its recognition in this capacity.
Her comments followed a statement from a White House official, reported by Yonhap News Agency, indicating that President Trump remains open to engaging with Kim Jong-un to achieve a "fully denuclearized" North Korea. This comes amid ongoing speculation about a potential resumption of personal diplomacy between the leaders, which had previously led to three meetings, including the historic 2018 summit in Singapore. However, the 2019 Hanoi summit ended without agreement due to differences over denuclearization and sanctions relief.
Kim Yo-jong also addressed the timeline of negotiations, noting the differences in context between 2025 and earlier years. She dismissed any attempts to deny North Korea's status as a nuclear power and warned against escalating confrontations between the nuclear-armed nations.
Experts suggest that while North Korea remains firm on not negotiating denuclearization, there may still be opportunities for dialogue with the U.S. on other matters. Kim's remarks coincided with another KCNA statement condemning South Korea's unwavering alliance with the U.S. and dismissing prospects for dialogue with Seoul.