Kim Yo Jong warns that any talks aimed at denuclearization would be a "mockery," urging the US to recognize Pyongyang's irreversible nuclear status.
On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, declared the US must accept Pyongyang's "irreversible" nuclear weapons status. In a statement via state media, she warned that any denuclearization dialogue would be viewed as a "mockery," signaling a fundamental shift in conditions for future US-DPRK engagement and rejecting past approaches to negotiations.
ALSO READ Trump Shortens Deadline for Russia on Ukraine War
Kim Yo Jong's statement, carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, underscores a deep-seated belief within Pyongyang that its military capabilities and the broader geopolitical landscape have "radically changed." She asserted that recognizing North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state is a prerequisite for "everything in the future," a firm declaration that challenges the long-held US goal of complete denuclearization. Kim emphasized that any attempt to deny this position, which she stated is "fixed by the supreme law," would be "thoroughly rejected." She further suggested Washington should "seek another way of contact on the basis of such new thinking," implying a need for the US to fundamentally alter its diplomatic strategy toward the isolated nation. This assertive stance comes in response to recent suggestions from an unnamed White House official indicating US President Donald Trump's openness to resuming engagement with Kim Jong Un, specifically aimed at achieving a "fully denuclearised" North Korea.
ALSO READ Manhattan Shooter Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer, Before Death
Kim Yo Jong also directly addressed the personal relationship between her brother and President Trump, acknowledging it was "not bad," but cautioned against leveraging it for denuclearization efforts. She stated, “If the US fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK-US meeting will remain as a ‘hope’ of the US side.” This suggests that continued adherence to the denuclearization agenda would render future summits futile. The impact of this declaration is significant, as it effectively closes the door on traditional denuclearization talks as a basis for engagement, potentially forcing the US to reconsider its diplomatic objectives and frameworks. For policy, this could mean a shift towards discussions focused on arms control, threat reduction, or even mutual recognition, rather than complete disarmament.
ALSO READ Su From So: A Comedy with Heart
This latest pronouncement from Pyongyang follows President Trump's repeated expressions of interest in resuming dialogue with North Korea since returning to the White House in January. Trump famously held three face-to-face summits with Kim Jong Un in 2018 and 2019 – in Singapore, Vietnam, and at the inter-Korean border – marking historic firsts. However, despite the high-profile meetings and initial "progress" touted by the White House, these talks ultimately failed to halt the advancement of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programs. Kim Yo Jong's comments also followed her recent dismissal of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s reconciliation efforts, including halting propaganda broadcasts, signaling a broad rejection of traditional overtures for engagement.
ALSO READ Iran SE Attack: 5 Civilians Dead, 3 Gunmen Killed; Jaish al-Adl Claims
There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin regarding North Korea's new demands, leaving the diplomatic path forward uncertain. Experts suggest this statement solidifies Pyongyang's long-held position and sets a non-negotiable precondition for any future dialogue. Jenny Town, director of the Korea programme at the Stimson Center, notes that Kim Yo Jong's message is consistent with recent North Korean messaging and "dispels the notion that ‘denuclearisation’ talks can simply be picked up where they left off." Town emphasizes that "too much has changed since 2019" in terms of North Korea's weapons development and legal frameworks, asserting that "if negotiations are possible, the terms of engagement have fundamentally changed." The critical next step is whether the US will be willing to "take that leap" and pursue talks under a new framing that accepts North Korea as a nuclear state, potentially shifting the global approach to the ongoing crisis.
Disclaimer: This article was generated with the support of AI and
edited for clarity by the PulseNext team. Except for the headline and featured
image, the content is sourced from a syndicated feed. For details, please refer
to our [Terms & Conditions].
Post a Comment