North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has indicated willingness to engage in talks with the US under the condition that Washington drops its demand for the country to abandon its nuclear arsenal. In a speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, Kim stated that talks could take place if the US accepts North Korea’s reality and seeks genuine peace, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency.
Kim’s comments come after both US President Donald Trump and South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung expressed interest last month in meeting with their North Korean counterpart at the White House. Trump said he still has fond memories of Kim, suggesting that they could establish a better rapport than with Kim’s family members who have ruled North Korea for generations.
Despite the recent openness, North Korea remains critical of joint military drills between the US and South Korea. Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has referred to these exercises as a “reckless” invasion rehearsal.
Experts like Lee Jae-myung propose a more realistic approach to North Korea’s nuclear program, suggesting that North Korea could halt further acquisitions without having to give up its existing nuclear weapons. Addressing the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim stated that sanctions on North Korea have only made the country stronger.
The world faces the threat of a new nuclear arms race, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The upcoming meeting between Washington and Pyongyang might address these concerns as North Korea’s leader recently met with China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, solidifying diplomatic ties.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/22/north-koreas-kim-says-open-to-us-talks-if-denuclearisation-demands-dropped?traffic_source=rss
