Kim Yo-jong Dismisses Possibility of North Korea-US Summit: "Only the US Needs It, Not Us"

Expressing Willingness for Denuclearization While Demanding Changes in US Calculations
Kim Jong-un Emphasizes Friendship with Trump, Leaving Room for Negotiation

On June 30, 2019, Chairman Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump hold talks at the Freedom House on the South Korean side of Panmunjom.

Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, dismissed the possibility of a North Korea-U.S. summit taking place within this year on the 10th. However, she left room by expressing willingness for denuclearization and demanding a change in the U.S.'s calculations.

In a statement released that day, Kim said, "Although this is purely my personal opinion, I believe that a North Korea-U.S. summit will not happen this year," according to North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency.

She prefaced by saying that "no one knows what sudden events might occur depending on the judgments and decisions of Chairman Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump," but clearly stated three reasons why a North Korea-U.S. summit will not be held this year.

She cited as reasons that "it is something only necessary for the U.S. side and is completely unrealistic and useless for us," and that "it would only waste our time and could even risk damaging the special relationship that has been maintained between the leaders."

She also emphasized, "Because it was predicted by that trash Bolton (former White House National Security Advisor), there is absolutely no need to do so."

However, Kim Yo-jong also clarified that North Korea does not lack the will for denuclearization. She stated, "We are not saying that we will never denuclearize, but we are making it clear that we cannot do so now," and stressed, "To realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, many irreversible and significant changes must be simultaneously taken by the other side alongside our actions."

Kim also made clear demands toward the U.S. She said that the 'Yongbyon dismantlement - partial sanctions relief' card discussed at the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit, which ended with no deal in February last year, will not be reconsidered.

She said, "I think the basic theme of past North Korea-U.S. negotiations, 'denuclearization measures versus sanctions relief,' should now be changed to the framework of 'withdrawal of hostility versus resumption of North Korea-U.S. negotiations,'" and added, "I hope the U.S. does not harbor the foolish dream of trying to renegotiate partial sanctions relief and the permanent dismantlement of large-scale nuclear facilities like the Yongbyon complex, which is the core of our nuclear development, on the Hanoi summit table at this point."

Regarding future North Korean military actions, she said, "The U.S. must be worried about whether it will receive an unexpected Christmas gift on the eve of the presidential election," and added, "Whether the U.S. will be troubled by such a headache depends entirely on how they conduct themselves."

She warned, "If they continue to utter spiteful words and obsess over useless things like economic pressure or military threats against us, we will have to wait and see what happens."

She also issued a threatening remark, saying, "If the U.S., in its anxious and restless state, rashly takes dangerous actions that provoke our serious response, it will be like waking a sleeping tiger," and "It is clear that the outcome will not be pleasant."