Kim offers talks if U.S. drops denuclearization demand
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would be open to talks with the United States only if Washington abandons its demand for denuclearization, insisting his country's nuclear arsenal is irreversible and even codified in law, and recalling "good personal memories" of Donald Trump. Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim again during upcoming trips to Asia, but a senior State Department official said no DMZ meeting is currently planned, even as Seoul and U.S. officials continue to press denuclearization and analysts estimate North Korea possesses on the order of dozens of nuclear warheads amid closer ties with Russia and China.
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📰 Sources (4)
Nuclear threats from North Korea loom quietly behind wars in Gaza and Ukraine at UNGA
New information:
- Defense Department assessment cited that China had about 600 nuclear warheads as of mid-2024 and may exceed 1,000 by 2030.
- Open-source estimate included that North Korea currently holds about 50 warheads with fissile material sufficient for 70–90 warheads.
- Confirmation from a senior State Department official that no meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un at the DMZ is currently planned during Trump's October South Korea trip.
- Reporting that reviews of the AUKUS submarine pact are underway across partner governments with updates expected this fall.
North Korean leader recalls ‘good personal memories’ of Trump, urges U.S. to drop denuclearization demands
New information:
- Kim said he still has 'good personal memories' of Donald Trump and framed talks as possible if Washington abandons 'its delusional obsession with denuclearization.'
- Kim explicitly stated he has 'no intention' of resuming dialogue with South Korea, reiterating a break from inter-Korean engagement.
- AP adds that North Korea has sent thousands of troops and large quantities of military equipment to Russia to support the war in Ukraine.
- Contextual timing: Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month for the APEC summit, with media speculation of a possible DMZ meeting similar to 2019.
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is heading to UNGA to press for reduced nuclear tensions and a return to talks.
North Korea's Kim Jong Un ready to talk if U.S. drops denuclearization demand
New information:
- Kim explicitly said there is "no reason" not to meet if the U.S. drops its "obsession" with denuclearization and seeks peaceful coexistence.
- He asserted North Korea’s "irreversible" nuclear status is codified in its constitution and framed U.S. disarmament pressure via Iraq/Libya examples.
- Kim said reunification with South Korea is "unnecessary" and vowed "never" to unify with a country reliant on a foreign power, rebuffing Seoul’s outreach.
- NPR notes Trump told South Korea’s president he’d like to meet Kim this year and has referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power."
- Adds context that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korea reaffirmed denuclearization goals in July, and that Kim appeared with Putin and Xi at a Beijing parade, signaling stronger backing.
Kim Jong-un says he's open to talks with U.S., has "fond" memories of Trump
New information:
- Kim’s remarks were reported Monday local time by the state-run Rodong Sinmun (via auto-translated post).
- Kim conditioned talks on the U.S. abandoning 'denuclearization' demands and vowed North Korea would 'never' give up its nuclear arsenal.
- The White House and State Department did not immediately comment; Trump has said he wants another meeting with Kim this year.