North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would be open to meeting with President Donald Trump again if Washington abandons its demand for denuclearization. Speaking to his parliament on Sunday, Kim said he had “good memories” of Trump and saw “no reason for us not to sit down with the U.S.” if talks are based on what he called “peaceful coexistence” and “recognition of reality,” according to state media reports.
The remarks were Kim’s first direct comments on Trump since his return to office. The two leaders met three times in 2018 and 2019, with Trump frequently touting their relationship.
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What conditions did Kim set?
Kim dismissed the idea of disarmament outright, labeling U.S. calls for denuclearization a “delusional obsession,” according to The Wall Street Journal. He said North Korea’s nuclear arsenal was permanent and would not be traded for relief from sanctions.
Declaring North Korea a nuclear power three years ago, Kim repeated that abandoning those weapons “will never, ever happen with us.”
Analysts noted that Kim’s stance challenges decades of U.S. policy, which has made nuclear disarmament a precondition for dialogue. The Wall Street Journal reported that Pyongyang wants future talks to begin with recognition of its nuclear status.
How does this connect to Trump’s upcoming travel?
Kim’s remarks came just days after Trump announced that he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, where he is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
South Korean officials said Kim is not expected at the summit, and analysts noted that strained inter-Korean relations make another impromptu meeting difficult. It could be the first time the two have met since 2019.
The role of China and Russia
Kim has leaned heavily on Beijing and Moscow, both of which have vetoed recent U.S.-backed sanctions. Earlier this month, Kim appeared with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Chinese military parade with his daughter, fueling succession speculation.
In his Sunday address, Kim said, “time is on our side” in North Korea’s confrontation with the United States, according to the Times.
