Japanese Government Says It Will Not Speculate on Possibility of North Korea-U.S. Talks After Kim Yo-jong's Statement

Response to North Korea... Close Cooperation with the United States

On July 29, the Japanese government stated that it would not make any predictions regarding the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the United States, in response to a statement by Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, who mentioned North Korea-U.S. relations.

Yonhap News Agency

At a regular press briefing on the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi was asked about Kim's statement, which left open the possibility of North Korea-U.S. talks. He replied, "I will refrain from making any predictions or comments regarding dialogue between North Korea and the United States." He added, "On issues such as the abduction problem and responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, cooperation with the international community, including the United States, is essential, and we intend to work closely with the United States."

Secretary Hayashi also stated, "North Korea's development of nuclear missiles poses a threat to the peace and security of the international community and can never be accepted." He continued, "We will work in cooperation with the international community, including the United States and South Korea, to fully implement United Nations Security Council resolutions and pursue the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear warhead and missile programs."

Earlier that day, according to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong stated in her remarks, "If the United States cannot accept the changed reality and remains fixated on the past, meetings between North Korea and the United States will remain only as a wish on the part of the United States."

She drew a line regarding the recent White House statement recalling the 2018-2019 North Korea-U.S. summits, which said, "President Trump remains open to dialogue with Chairman Kim to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea." Kim said, "We do not wish to attach any significance to the unilateral assessment by the United States regarding past North Korea-U.S. talks."

In her statement, Kim Yo-jong also said, "Both countries possessing nuclear weapons should at least have the minimum level of judgment to recognize that moving in a confrontational direction is never beneficial for either side. If so, it would be advisable to seek alternative avenues of contact based on such new thinking."

Immediately after Kim Yo-jong's remarks, the U.S. White House reiterated that President Trump still wishes to engage in dialogue with Chairman Kim for North Korea's denuclearization. Reuters, citing a White House official, reported that President Trump remains open to communication with Chairman Kim.