North Korea’s Kim says open to talks with US if it drops demand on denuclearisation

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shared fond memories of U.S. President Donald Trump and signaled openness to talks with the United States—but only if Washington stops pushing for North Korea’s denuclearization. In a speech on Sunday to the country’s key parliamentary meeting, Kim made it clear: his nation won’t give up its nuclear weapons, which he called an “irreversible” part of its constitution.

“I still have a good memory of U.S. President Trump,” Kim said, according to the Korean Central News Agency. This marks the first time he’s directly mentioned his relationship with Trump since the U.S. leader started his second term in January. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, had hinted earlier that their personal ties weren’t bad.

The comments come as Trump eyes a possible meeting with Kim this year. Last month, Trump voiced hope for such a sit-down during talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Speculation is building that Trump might surprise everyone with a rendezvous at the Panmunjom truce village when he heads to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Kim laid out his stance plainly: North Korea sees its nukes as no bargaining chip. “If the U.S. drops its hollow obsession with denuclearization and wants peaceful coexistence based on reality, there’s no reason we can’t sit down,” he told the assembly. He stressed that talks won’t happen if they’re tied to easing U.S. sanctions. “There will never, never be denuclearization for us,” Kim added.

The two leaders have history. During Trump’s first term, they met three times: big summits in Singapore in 2018 and Hanoi in 2019, plus a quick border chat at Panmunjom that same year in June. But things stalled after Hanoi, where disagreements over sanctions relief killed any deal on North Korea’s nuclear program.

On South Korea, Kim kept up his tough talk. He ruled out any talks or unification with Seoul, calling it a nation that hands its politics and defense to foreign powers. “We will never unify with such a country,” he said, labeling inter-Korean ties as hostile. Back in December 2023, he declared the two sides as separate enemy states and ditched ideas of reconciliation.

Kim even issued stark warnings. If North Korea can’t use its nuclear weapons as a deterrent, he threatened an attack that could wipe out South Korea’s military and its allies in moments. He shot down Lee’s recent three-stage denuclearization plan—starting with a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs—as just a rehash of old ideas.

President Lee, who took office in June, has been pushing for better ties with the North. He’s backed Trump’s dialogue efforts, asking him to act as a “peacemaker” during an August meeting in Washington. In a BBC interview, Lee said his government would welcome an interim deal, like freezing North Korea’s nuclear activities, as a practical step forward.

Experts think Trump might aim for a “small deal” to restart U.S.-North Korea talks, such as pausing the nuclear program or some disarmament steps. South Korea and the U.S. still push for full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Kim wrapped up his speech by boasting about North Korea’s defense wins this year, like building new naval destroyers and developing “secret weapons” to boost military strength. He didn’t spill details on those mystery arms.


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