North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he is open to talks with the US if Washington stops insisting that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons. However, he made it clear that Pyongyang will never trade its nuclear arsenal for sanctions relief, according to state media.
Speaking at the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim expressed fond memories of former US President Donald Trump, noting they met three times during Trump’s term. He added that denuclearization demands are “absurd” and that North Korea built its nuclear weapons to protect itself from what it sees as grave threats from the US and South Korea.
Kim criticized recent offers for dialogue from Washington and Seoul, calling them disingenuous and aimed at weakening his regime. He said sanctions have only made the country stronger and more resilient, and he vowed, “We will never give up our nuclear weapons.”
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung acknowledged the limits of sanctions, noting North Korea continues to expand its nuclear arsenal. Lee has proposed a phased approach to rebuild trust and eventually reduce Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities. He stressed that creating the right conditions for dialogue is crucial and believes Trump could play a key role in restarting talks.
Kim’s comments underline Pyongyang’s firm stance on nuclear weapons despite ongoing peace efforts.
