North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that his country is open to renewed dialogue with the United States — but only if Washington drops what he called its “absurd obsession” with denuclearisation. In a speech before the Supreme People’s Assembly on Sunday, Kim insisted that Pyongyang would never relinquish its nuclear arsenal, framing it as a vital guarantee of survival against what he described as hostile U.S. and South Korean policies.
The remarks, reported by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), come at a critical moment in global geopolitics. They represent Kim’s most direct reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump since Trump returned to office in January, and they hint at a potential shift in Pyongyang’s diplomatic posture.
A Nostalgic Nod to Trump
“Personally, I still have fond memories of U.S. President Trump,” Kim was quoted as saying, recalling the three high-profile summits the two leaders held during Trump’s first presidency. While those meetings produced dramatic images and lofty rhetoric, they ultimately failed to deliver a lasting agreement on North Korea’s nuclear programme.
Now, Kim appears to be extending an olive branch of sorts. “If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States,” he said.
Analysts suggest the comments are carefully calculated. Rachel Minyoung Lee, a North Korea expert at the Washington-based Stimson Center, described Kim’s remarks as an overture. “This is an invitation to Trump to rethink U.S. policy on denuclearisation,” she explained. “The implication is that if the U.S. abandons its long-standing demand, Kim is prepared to meet Trump face-to-face again.”
Hostility Toward Seoul
While extending warmth toward Washington, Kim adopted a sharply different tone toward South Korea. He dismissed Seoul outright, labelling it “a main enemy” and rejecting any possibility of dialogue. According to Kim, joint U.S.-South Korean military drills have effectively turned into rehearsals for nuclear war, leaving Pyongyang with no choice but to strengthen its nuclear deterrent.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, however, presented a starkly different perspective in a recent interview with Reuters. He estimated that North Korea is producing between 15 and 20 nuclear bombs annually — a pace that, if accurate, would significantly escalate the threat posed by Pyongyang. Lee argued that even a temporary freeze in production would be “a useful step” toward eventual dismantlement.
“Based on that, we can proceed to medium-term negotiations for nuclear weapons reductions, and in the long run, once mutual trust is restored and North Korea’s regime-security concerns are reduced, we can pursue denuclearisation,” Lee said.
Kim dismissed such proposals as dangerous illusions. “The world already knows full well what the United States does after it makes a country give up its nuclear weapons and disarms. We will never give up our nuclear weapons,” he declared. Sanctions, he added, had only made North Korea stronger and more self-reliant.
Sanctions and Resilience
North Korea has lived under layers of international sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006. The measures, reinforced by successive UN resolutions, have cut Pyongyang off from much of the global economy. Yet despite the embargoes, the country has steadily advanced both its nuclear and missile programmes.
Kim portrayed this persistence as a badge of honour. He described sanctions as a “learning experience” that forced the country to innovate and withstand external pressure. Critics, however, point to the heavy toll sanctions have taken on ordinary North Koreans, deepening food shortages and stifling economic development.
South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung argued that pressure alone has proven ineffective. “Sanctions and isolation have not solved the problem; in fact, they have worsened it,” he said. His government advocates a phased approach that blends pressure with incentives, beginning with smaller agreements such as freezing nuclear production before attempting broader disarmament.
A Diplomatic Chessboard
Kim’s overture toward Washington may also reflect a broader strategic calculation. The Stimson Center’s Lee suggested that by reaching out to Trump directly, Kim is attempting to bypass Seoul and reshape the diplomatic landscape. “Perhaps he wants to get ahead of the Lee government and dissuade the Trump administration from cooperating with South Korea by reiterating that Seoul is a separate country and cannot be a party to the North Korean nuclear issue,” she said.
Indeed, Kim’s remarks could be read as an effort to revive the spirit of “leader-to-leader” diplomacy that defined his earlier interactions with Trump, while sidelining South Korea from future talks.
Wider Geopolitical Ties
Kim’s comments also come as Pyongyang deepens its relationships with Moscow and Beijing. In recent months, North Korea has pledged “unwavering support” for Russia amid its war in Ukraine, with Kim holding talks with Russian officials, including Security Chief Sergei Shoigu. Reports have also indicated that Kim is preparing to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin for discussions on military cooperation and arms supplies.
These growing ties with Russia, coupled with long-standing support from China, suggest Pyongyang is positioning itself as part of a broader axis opposed to U.S.-led influence. For Washington, this complicates efforts to isolate North Korea and raises questions about how far sanctions can go without cooperation from Moscow and Beijing.
Trump’s Calculus
The prospect of a Trump-Kim reunion is likely to spark debate in Washington and beyond. Trump has previously expressed pride in his personal rapport with Kim, often citing it as proof of his ability to defuse tensions through unconventional diplomacy. Yet critics argue that his summits with Kim produced little substance while granting legitimacy to one of the world’s most repressive regimes.
Whether Trump would accept Kim’s invitation to restart talks — particularly on Pyongyang’s terms — remains uncertain. The White House has so far maintained that Washington has no intention of dropping its denuclearisation demand, a stance reiterated by President Joe Biden before leaving office.
What Lies Ahead
For now, Kim’s remarks highlight both the enduring stalemate and the delicate possibilities in U.S.–North Korea relations. By signalling openness to talks while doubling down on nuclear weapons, Pyongyang is attempting to shift the debate from disarmament to coexistence.
South Korea’s president maintains that engagement, however incremental, remains the only realistic path forward. “Our main task now is to create the conditions for dialogue,” Lee said, acknowledging the absence of concrete discussions but insisting that diplomacy must not be abandoned.
As Kim Jong Un plays his hand on the global diplomatic chessboard, the world is left to consider whether his latest overture is a genuine invitation or another calculated move to buy time while his nuclear arsenal grows.
