During a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated that he saw no reason to reject dialogue with the US if Washington refrained from insisting on denuclearization.
He emphasized that the nuclear arsenal was a matter of survival for the DPRK, given the threats posed by the United States and South Korea. He described the current offers from Washington and Seoul as dishonest, as he believes their goal remains to weaken and overthrow the North Korean regime.
“Personally, I still have fond memories of US President Trump,” reported the KCNA news agency. He met with him three times during his first term in office.
“The world knows very well what the United States does after forcing a country to give up its nuclear weapons and disarm. We will never give up our nuclear weapons,” Kim said.
He took an even tougher stance toward Seoul, rejecting any negotiations and calling the idea of reunification of the two Koreas “useless.” He also criticized South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's denuclearization plan, which he believes merely copies earlier proposals.
Seoul insists that dialogue is necessary and that gradual denuclearization remains possible.
(reuters, max)