Latest news with #denuclearization
NHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Kim Jong Un's sister suggests talks with the US are possible but with conditions
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suggested the possibility of new summit talks with the US, but ruled out Pyongyang giving up its nuclear-weapons program. Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, issued a statement via the state-run media on Tuesday. She said, "I do not want to deny the fact that the personal relationship between the head of our state and the present US president is not bad." But Kim added that if the personal relations of the two are to serve the purpose of denuclearization, "it can be interpreted as nothing but a mockery of the other party." She reiterated North Korea's "irreversible position" as a nuclear-weapons state. Kim stressed that "it is by no means beneficial to each other for the two countries possessed of nuclear weapons to go in a confrontational direction," suggesting that fresh talks with the US are possible. But her remarks are viewed as a rejection that any future talks would be based on the premise of North Korea's denuclearization. US President Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un three times in 2018 and 2019 during his first term. Trump was not able to reach agreement with Kim but is still willing to meet him again in his current term. Reuters news agency quoted a White House official as saying, "Trump remains open to engaging with Kim to achieve a fully de-nuclearized North Korea."
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
US must recognize North Korea as a nuclear power – Kim's sister
The US must acknowledge that North Korea has permanently become a nuclear-armed nation, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has said. She also warned that personal ties between her brother and US President Donald Trump should not be used to compel Pyongyang to denuclearize. In a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, cautioned that any future dialogue should be based on 'the recognition of the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state.' Another prerequisite should be the understanding that Pyongyang's capabilities and geopolitical environment 'have radically changed' compared to Trump's first term, which saw historic US-North Korea diplomacy, she added. Kim said any effort to deny this reality 'will be thoroughly rejected' and that North Korea 'is open to any option in defending its present national position.' At the same time, she acknowledged that 'it is by no means beneficial to each other for the two countries possess[ing] nuclear weapons to go in a confrontational direction.' While acknowledging that 'the personal relationship between the head of our state and the present US president is not bad,' Kim warned that 'if the personal relations between the top leaders of the DPRK and the US are to serve the purpose of denuclearization, it can be interpreted as nothing but a mockery of the other party.' 'If the US fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, a DPRK-US meeting will remain as a 'hope' of the US side,' Kim concluded. Trump met Kim Jong-un three times between 2018 and 2019 in an effort to negotiate North Korea's denuclearization in exchange for security guarantees and economic relief. Despite the unprecedented diplomacy, no lasting deal was reached and talks stalled. North Korea is estimated to have around 50 nuclear weapons and insists that the arsenal is a vital deterrent against a potential incursion by the US and South Korea, which regularly hold military drills near its borders.
National Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
North Korea rejects U.S. goal to resume denuclearization talks, as Pyogyang and Moscow strengthen ties
SEOUL, South Korea — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed the U.S.'s intent to resume diplomacy on North Korea's denuclearization, saying Tuesday the North flatly opposes any attempt to deny its position as a nuclear weapons state. Article content In his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has bragged of his personal ties with Kim Jong Un and expressed hopes of restarting nuclear diplomacy between them. Their high-stakes diplomacy in 2018-19 unraveled due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions against North Korea. Kim has since executed weapons tests to modernize and expand his nuclear arsenal. Article content Article content Article content In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong said she doesn't deny the personal relationship between her brother and Trump 'is not bad.' But she said if their personal relations are to serve the purpose of North Korea's denuclearization, North Korea would view it as 'nothing but a mockery.' Article content Article content She said it was worth considering that the year is 2025, not 2018 or 2019 — which was during Trump's first term — and any attempt to deny North Korea as a nuclear weapons state would be rejected. Article content 'If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK- U.S. meeting will remain as a 'hope' of the U.S. side,' Kim Yo Jong said, referring to her country by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Article content She said she was responding to reported comments by a U.S. official that Trump is open to talks on denuclearization. She likely was referring to a Saturday article by Yonhap news agency that cited an unidentified White House official as saying Trump 'remains open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve a fully denuclearized North Korea.' Article content Article content Meanwhile, on Sunday a regular air link between Moscow and Pyogyang started, a move reflecting increasingly close ties between the two countries. Article content Article content The first flight operated by Russian carrier Nordwind took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport carrying over 400 passengers. Russia's Transport Ministry said there will be one flight a month to meet demand. Article content North Korea has been slowly easing the curbs imposed during the pandemic and reopening its borders in phases. But the country hasn't said if it would fully resume international tourism. Article content Article content Russia and North Korea have sharply expanded military and other ties in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying weapons and troops to back Russia's military action in Ukraine. Article content Experts have said previously that North Korea would only be interested in talks on a partial surrender of its nuclear capability in return for sanctions relief and other benefits, while retaining some of its nuclear weapons.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Kim Jong Un's sister dismisses U.S. intent to resume diplomacy on North Korea denuclearization
SEOUL, South Korea - The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed U.S. intent to resume diplomacy on North Korea's denuclearization, saying Tuesday the North flatly opposes any attempt to deny its position as a nuclear weapons state. Since beginning his second term in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly bragged of his personal ties with Kim Jong Un and expressed hopes of restarting nuclear diplomacy between them. Their high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018-19 unraveled due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions. Kim has since performed a provocative run of weapons tests to modernize and expand his nuclear arsenal. In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong said that 'It is worth taking into account the fact that the year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019.' 'Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state which was established along with the existence of a powerful nuclear deterrent and fixed by the supreme law reflecting the unanimous will of all the DPRK people will be thoroughly rejected,' she said, referring to her country by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. She said she was responding to reported comments by a U.S. official that Trump is still open to talks with Kim Jong Un on the North's complete denuclearization. She likely was referring to a Saturday article by Yonhap news agency that cited an unidentified White House official as saying that Trump 'remains open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve a fully denuclearized North Korea.' Kim Yo Jong said she doesn't deny the personal relationship between her brother and Trump 'is not bad.' But she said if their personal relations are to serve the purpose of North Korea's denuclearization, North Korea would view it as 'nothing but a mockery.' 'If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK- U.S. meeting will remain as a `hope' of the U.S. side,' Kim Yo Jong said. Her comments suggested complete denuclearization won't be up for negotiation. Experts earlier said North Korea would only be interested in talks on a partial surrender of its nuclear capability in return for sanctions relief and other benefits, a tactic that could allow North Korea to retain some of its key nuclear weapons after winning what it wants from the U.S. The earlier Trump-Kim diplomacy collapsed after Trump rejected Kim's calls for extensive sanctions relief in return for dismantling his main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step. On Monday, Kim Yo Jong rebuffed overtures by South Korea's new liberal government, saying its 'blind trust' in the country's alliance with the U.S. and hostility toward North Korea make it no different from its conservative predecessor. Her comments imply that North Korea - now preoccupied with its expanding cooperation with Russia - sees no need to resume diplomacy with South Korea anytime soon. Experts say Kim Yo Jong also likely seeks to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington. By Hyung-jin Kim.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Kim Jong Un's sister dismisses US intent to resume diplomacy on North Korea denuclearization
SEOUL, South Korea — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed U.S. intent to resume diplomacy on North Korea's denuclearization, saying Tuesday the North flatly opposes any attempt to deny its position as a nuclear weapons state. Since beginning his second term in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly bragged of his personal ties with Kim Jong Un and expressed hopes of restarting nuclear diplomacy between them. Their high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018-19 unraveled due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions. Kim has since performed a provocative run of weapons tests to modernize and expand his nuclear arsenal.
