North Korea Offers Dialogue with America with One Condition
September 22, 202546 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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In a notable shift on the international stage, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced his country's readiness to enter negotiations with the United States, but with a clear and specific condition:
Washington must abandon its demand for the denuclearization of Korea.
This statement came during a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang yesterday, where Kim confirmed that his country sees no obstacle to resuming dialogue, provided the United States stops insisting on what he described as a "one-sided demand" for denuclearization, according to South Korean news agency "Yonhap" this Monday morning.
* "Good" Memories with Trump
In a notable step that could pave the way for reviving the negotiation track, Kim expressed his appreciation for his previous relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, stating:
"Personally, I still have good memories with Trump."
Trump had stated last August his desire to meet Kim again before the end of the year, indicating his openness to continue discussions with South Korea, within a broader framework that includes trade relations and security issues on the Korean Peninsula.
* 3 Historic Summits .. and Half Success
The relations between Pyongyang and Washington have seen three historic summits between Trump and Kim:
_ The first meeting was held in Singapore in 2018, resulting in a preliminary agreement for denuclearization.
_ The second summit in Hanoi in 2019 ended without an agreement due to disagreements over the easing of U.S. sanctions imposed on North Korea.
_ The third summit took place in the border village of Panmunjom in June 2019, and was more symbolic than negotiative.
Despite the stalled negotiations since then, Trump has repeatedly affirmed that there is a "great relationship" between him and Kim, praising what he described as "mutual respect" between them.
* Will U.S.-Korean Dialogue Return?
Kim's recent statements open the door to significant questions about the future of the Korean nuclear issue, and the extent to which the U.S. administration, whether led by Trump or his rivals, is willing to reshape the terms of dialogue with one of the most closed and armed countries in the world.
Will we witness a fourth summit that revives hope on the Korean Peninsula?
Or will the nuclear condition remain a stubborn knot in the way of any diplomatic progress?
