Seoul, Korea
Reuters
–
North Korean leader Kim Jong said there was no reason to avoid dialogue with the US if Washington stops claiming that his country will give up on nuclear weapons, but he will never trade nuclear weapons in a way that is not sanctioned, state media reported Monday.
In his speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly on Sunday, Kim said: “Personally, I still have memories of President of the United States (Donald) Trump,” KCNA reported. The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first presidency.
Comments have urged Trump to lead when Seoul’s new liberal government resume dialogue with Kim, six years after the peace conference with Pyongyang collapsed over clashes over sanctions and nuclear dismantling.
“If the United States wants to remove its absurd obsession with denuclearizing us, embrace reality and want to truly peaceful coexistence, then there’s no reason we won’t sit with the United States,” Kim was quoted as saying.
Kim said building nuclear weapons to protect security against serious threats from the US and South Korea is a matter of survival for the nation, citing a series of regular military training by allies who said he has evolved into a movement for nuclear war.
The recent overture to the dialogue from Washington and Seoul is dishonest. Because the basic intentions to weaken the North and destroy the regime remain the same, Kim said the addition of a gradual proposal by the South to end the North’s nuclear program is proof of this.
“The world already knows well enough what the US is doing after the nation has given up nuclear weapons and disarming,” Kim said. “We will never give up on nuclear weapons.”
“Never and never will negotiate with an enemy who trades some things out of their obsession with lifting sanctions.”
Sanctions were “learning experiences,” he said, making his country stronger and more resilient.
North Korea, which was under a series of UN Security Council resolutions that imposed economic sanctions and arms embargoes that narrowed down funds for military development, continues to advance in the construction of nuclear weapons and powerful ballistic missiles.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in an interview with Reuters that these sanctions ultimately failed to block the North.
“The reality is that previous approaches to sanctions and pressures have not solved the problem. That’s getting worse,” Lee said.
Since taking office in June, Lee said he needs to talk with Peace Yang, and has proposed steps to build confidence and ultimately end the North’s nuclear program.
Lee told Reuters there was a horrific obstacle to reopening dialogue with the North, but he still believed a step-by-step approach to dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear program was a realistic option.
Appropriate conditions must be created to bring the North back to the table, and Trump has a key role to play in those efforts, Lee said.
