A U.S. State Department official revealed on Thursday that they are closely monitoring recent statements by Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Publicity and Information Department of North Korea’s Workers’ Party. Kim’s comments suggested the possibility of dialogue with the U.S. on matters other than North Korean denuclearization.
During the annual briefing of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in Arlington County, Virginia, Seth Bailey, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, stated that it has observed high-level statements from North Korean leadership, including Kim’s recent remarks, and they are paying close attention to them.
Bailey emphasized that the new South Korean administration has demonstrated its commitment to engaging with North Korea and has taken meaningful steps to reduce tensions across the Korean Peninsula. Further adding that both President Trump and South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung have shown their dedication to diplomacy and engagement with North Korea.
On July 29, Kim released a statement via the Korean Central News Agency titled, Contact between North Korea and the U.S. is merely a hope for the United States. In the statement, she asserted that she doesn’t wish to deny that the personal relationship between their leader (Kim Jong Un) and the current U.S. president is not bad. However, she added that if the personal relationship between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. becomes entangled with the goal of achieving denuclearization, it can only be interpreted as mockery toward the other side.
This position suggests that Kim would find it difficult to accept a return to the previous style of North Korea-U.S. summits if President Trump pursues such an approach.
Kim also stated that both nuclear-armed nations must recognize that moving in a confrontational direction is not beneficial for either side. Further noting that therefore, it would be wise to explore alternative avenues for contact based on this new thinking, urging the U.S. to propose a new solution.
She added that if the U.S. cannot accept the changed realities and clings to a failed past, meetings between North Korea and the U.S. will remain merely a hope on the U.S. side.
In response to Kim’s remarks, the White House stated that President Trump remains open to dialogue with Chairman Kim to completely end North Korea’s nuclear program.
During a regular press briefing on July 30, the State Department addressed questions about Kim’s comments and U.S.-North Korea relations, stating that as he did during his first administration, President Trump is willing to engage in dialogue with anyone to achieve peace, prosperity, and a world where people can live normal lives.