Kim Jong Un Rejects Nuclear Talks but Recalls “Fond Memories” of Trump
PYONGYANG – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ruled out the possibility of giving up his country’s nuclear weapons, while surprisingly expressing warm sentiments toward former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim said Washington must abandon its “delusional obsession with denuclearisation” if it truly seeks peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang. “There is no reason we cannot meet the United States if it recognizes reality,” he said, according to state media.
Kim recalled his three high-profile summits with Trump during the American leader’s first term, noting, “I still personally hold fond memories of the current U.S. president, Trump.” The two last met in 2019 in Hanoi, but talks collapsed over disagreements on sanctions relief and Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.
Since then, North Korea has repeatedly vowed never to disarm, declaring itself an “irreversible” nuclear power. Kim stressed that denuclearisation was “not an option,” citing examples of countries that gave up nuclear programs under U.S. pressure. “We will never give up our nuclear weapons,” he said.
Kim argued that international sanctions had only strengthened the North’s resilience, helping it “grow stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure.”
Turning to inter-Korean relations, Kim dismissed any prospect of dialogue with Seoul, despite efforts by South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung to ease tensions. “We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form,” Kim declared. In recent years, Pyongyang has labeled the South its “principal enemy” and destroyed cross-border infrastructure.
The timing of Kim’s remarks has drawn attention, as Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. Analysts say Kim’s comments may have been aimed at setting the stage for a potential surprise meeting.
“His statement hinted at the possibility of a summit, while also appealing to Trump’s well-known desire for a Nobel Prize,” said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University in South Korea.
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