Kim ready for talks if U.S. gives up denuclearization demand : NPR

SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed his willingness to resume negotiations with the U.S. if Washington shifts its focus away from denuclearization and towards peaceful coexistence.

This marks a significant shift in Kim’s stance and could pave the way for a potential meeting with President Trump to revive diplomatic efforts that have been stagnant since 2019.

Kim emphasized, “If the U.S. drops its hollow obsession with denuclearization and wants to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea based on the recognition of reality, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the U.S.”

“Personally, I still have good memories of U.S. President Trump,” Kim added.

Kim and Trump previously met in Singapore, Vietnam, and the inter-Korean border without reaching a denuclearization agreement in exchange for sanctions relief.

Kim defended North Korea’s nuclear weapons program as essential for its survival, citing the irreversible nuclear status enshrined in the country’s constitution.

He also criticized past U.S. actions in disarming other countries, pointing to Iraq and Libya as examples where regime change followed disarmament.

President Trump has expressed his desire to meet with Kim again this year, referring to North Korea as a “nuclear power.”

However, recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state goes against previous U.S. administrations’ policies and international norms.

In a recent meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister reaffirmed their commitment to achieving North Korea’s denuclearization.

If Trump and Kim do meet, Kim will be in a stronger position with a larger nuclear arsenal and support from Russia and China.

This was evident at a recent military parade in Beijing where Kim appeared alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping for the first time.

While Kim remains open to dialogue with the U.S., he has firmly rejected the idea of unification with South Korea, condemning the country’s reliance on foreign powers for its politics and defense.

Last year, North Korea announced the abandonment of its goal of reunification with the South and cut off all communication channels.

Despite South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to establish peace and trust with the North, Pyongyang has remained unresponsive.

President Lee has outlined a three-step plan for denuclearizing North Korea, emphasizing the need for freezing, reducing, and eventually dismantling the North’s nuclear arsenal.

Despite the challenges, President Lee remains committed to pursuing peace and reconciliation with North Korea in the face of their current standoff.