Seoul: The presidential office stated its willingness to support the resumption of nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States, while maintaining its firm stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This declaration comes in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent comments urging the U.S. to abandon its denuclearization demands in exchange for dialogue.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Jong-un, during a parliamentary meeting, expressed his openness to discussions with Washington, contingent upon the U.S. removing its denuclearization objective. He reminisced about his past interactions with U.S. President Donald Trump during their meetings in 2018 and 2019. However, Kim emphasized that North Korea has no intention of relinquishing its nuclear arsenal or pursuing unification with South Korea through dialogue.
A presidential official reiterated South Korea's support for North Korea-U.S. dialogue. The South Korean government aims to reduce tensions and foster trust with North Korea, taking a long-term view to overcome hostility and achieve peaceful relations between the two Koreas. Nonetheless, the official asserted that the objective of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula remains steadfast.
The official noted that the Lee Jae Myung administration respects North Korea's system and does not seek unification through absorption. Kim's recent remarks mark the first time he has directly addressed his relationship with Trump, amid speculation about a potential surprise meeting with the former U.S. president during his upcoming visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Trump and Kim previously met three times, including at summits in Singapore in June 2018 and Hanoi in February 2019.