North Korea Snubs Trump’s Push for Talks, Citing Nuclear Weapons Status
Kim Yo Jong says U.S. must accept North Korea as a nuclear power, dismissing Trump’s outreach for new talks.
Kim Yo Jong Warns U.S.: No Denuclearisation Without Acknowledging Nuclear Status
Pyongyang: North Korea has rejected a U.S. offer to resume diplomatic talks, calling Washington’s push for denuclearisation a “mockery” unless the country is recognised as a nuclear weapons state.
In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Pyongyang is open to “any option” to defend its national interests but warned the U.S. against clinging to past strategies.
“Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state … will be thoroughly rejected,” Kim said, using the official name, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
📉 Relations with Washington
Kim Yo Jong acknowledged that her brother’s personal relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump remains “not bad” but cautioned that “the year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019,” signalling little interest in reviving talks under old terms.
Her remarks came after reports that a White House official indicated Trump was still open to negotiating “complete denuclearisation.”
🛑 Talks Collapse and Rising Tensions
The Trump–Kim summits of 2018 and 2019 ended in failure, with North Korea refusing to halt its nuclear program in exchange for partial sanctions relief. Since then, Pyongyang has carried out multiple weapons tests and tightened its strategic alignment with Russia, backing Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Kim Yo Jong stressed that North Korea’s nuclear deterrent is now enshrined in its “supreme law,” reflecting what she described as the “unanimous will” of the people.
🔎 Denuclearisation Not on the Table
Analysts note that North Korea appears unwilling to consider full denuclearisation. Instead, it may only pursue limited arms concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and economic benefits — a tactic that could allow it to retain much of its arsenal.
The Trump administration previously rejected Kim Jong Un’s offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex in return for broad sanctions relief, judging it insufficient for meaningful disarmament.
🇰🇵 South Korea Also Rebuffed
On Monday, Kim Yo Jong also dismissed outreach from South Korea’s liberal government, accusing it of “blind trust” in the U.S. alliance. Her remarks suggested Pyongyang is instead prioritising stronger ties with Russia while showing little interest in dialogue with Seoul.
Experts warn that the latest statements signal a hardened stance from Pyongyang, complicating Washington’s hopes of reviving talks on the Korean Peninsula.
