Pyongyang: North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, contingent upon President Donald Trump rescinding his demands for denuclearisation. Despite ongoing economic sanctions and arms embargoes from the UN Security Council, Kim has continued to advance North Korea's nuclear program. He emphasized that while there is no inherent reason to avoid dialogue with the US, his country will not relinquish its nuclear arsenal in exchange for relief from sanctions, as reported by state media on Monday.
According to France24.com, Kim made these remarks during a speech at the Supreme People's Assembly on Sunday, expressing nostalgia for his past interactions with President Trump. The two leaders previously met three times during Trump's first term. Kim's comments arrive at a moment when the new liberal government in Seoul is advocating for Trump to spearhead renewed talks with North Korea, six years after former peace negotiations collapsed due to disputes over sanctions and nuclear disarmament.
Kim highlighted that the international community is well aware of the US's actions following the disarmament of other nations, stating, "We will never give up our nuclear weapons." Further, he declared that there would never be negotiations with adversaries focused on sanction relief, describing sanctions as a "learning experience" that has bolstered North Korea's resilience and strength.
Despite the series of UN Security Council resolutions aimed at curbing North Korea's military funding through economic sanctions and arms embargoes, the country has persisted in its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. In an interview with Reuters, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung acknowledged the ineffectiveness of these sanctions, noting that North Korea continues to expand its nuclear arsenal by 15 to 20 weapons annually.
Lee, who has advocated for peace initiatives since assuming office in June, insists that dialogue with Pyongyang is crucial. He has proposed measures to build trust and ultimately dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program. Despite acknowledging significant hurdles to re-engaging the North, Lee maintains that a phased approach to dismantlement remains the most pragmatic solution. He emphasized the importance of establishing conducive conditions for dialogue and underscored the pivotal role Trump could play in facilitating these efforts.