Seoul: The presidential office announced its support for potential nuclear discussions between North Korea and the United States, maintaining its firm stance on denuclearization, despite North Korea’s request for the U.S. to abandon this objective.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the statement followed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s remarks at a parliamentary meeting, where he expressed willingness to engage in talks with the U.S. if the demand for denuclearization is withdrawn. Kim reminisced about his past meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, noting a “good memory” of their interactions. Despite this, Kim reiterated that North Korea will not relinquish its nuclear arsenal and has no plans to resume discussions or pursue unification with South Korea.

A presidential official stated, “We will support North Korea-U.S. dialogue.” The South Korean government aims to reduce tensions and foster trust with North Korea to overcome historical hostilities and progress towards peaceful relations. Nonetheless, the official emphasized that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains a key objective. “We will continue efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons,” the official added.

The Lee Jae Myung administration respects North Korea’s system and does not intend to seek unification through absorption. The unification ministry expressed a similar sentiment, confirming that South Korea has no plans to take actions perceived as hostile towards North Korea. Koo Byoung-sam, a ministry spokesperson, stated at a press briefing, “The government will push to remove hostility between the two Koreas and develop their ties in a peaceful manner by easing tensions and restoring trust from a long-term perspective.”

Kim’s recent comments marked the first instance where he directly addressed his relationship with Trump. This comes amid speculation that Trump may attempt a surprise meeting with Kim, potentially at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, during his visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next month. Trump and Kim held three meetings during Trump’s first term, including summits in Singapore in June 2018 and Hanoi in February 2019.