North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would talk to the United States only if Washington stops demanding that Pyongyang scrap its nuclear weapons program, state-run news agency KCNA reported on Sept. 21.
During a speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, Kim said that if the United States stops demanding denuclearisation, “there is no reason … not to sit down with the United States.”
Kim also said he had fond memories of U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he met three times during Trump’s first presidency.
The North Korean leader said North Korea needs nuclear weapons to protect itself from threats posed by the United States and South Korea and would not be negotiating anything in exchange for lifting sanctions.
“We will never lay down our nuclear weapons,” he said.
Kim said he had rejected recent proposals from Seoul and Washington, including South Korea’s proposal for Pyongyang’s nuclear program to be scrapped in phases.
South Korea elected a new president, Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June, and has called for dialogue with North Korea.
‘Feasible, Realistic Alternative’
Speaking before flying to New York City on Sept. 22 for the U.N. General Assembly meeting, Lee said freezing the nuclear weapons program would be an “interim emergency measure,” which he said was a “feasible, realistic alternative” to full denuclearization.
While in New York City, Lee is expected to address the U.N. General Assembly and call on North Korea to return to dialogue.
Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, prompting speculation that he might meet with Kim again while visiting the peninsula.
Last month, when asked by reporters in the Oval Office about the prospect of meeting Kim, Trump said: “I’d like to meet him this year. … I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong Un in the appropriate future.”
