US State Department Responds to Kim Yo-jong: "Trump Willing to Talk with Anyone" (Comprehensive)

"Same as the First Term"... U.S. Expresses Positive Stance for Consecutive Days
However, Draws a Line: "For Foreign Leaders, Contact the White House"

On July 29 (local time), the U.S. government stated that President Donald Trump is open to dialogue in response to a statement by Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, who said that denuclearization negotiations are impossible but that the personal relationship between the leaders of North Korea and the United States is not bad. Following the remarks by a White House official the previous day, the U.S. has consecutively expressed a positive stance toward dialogue with North Korea, raising expectations that an actual summit between the two countries may take place in the future.

At a briefing on the same day, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce was asked about her position on Kim's statement. She replied, "It is the same as what we saw during (Trump's) first term," and added, "President Trump is willing to talk with anyone to bring peace, prosperity, and a normal life to people around the world."

According to Reuters, a White House official said the previous day that President Trump is still willing to talk with Chairman Kim for the denuclearization of North Korea and that he is open to dialogue with North Korea for denuclearization. On July 25, the White House also stated that it is open to communication for denuclearization.

In her statement, Kim Yo-jong mentioned that the relationship between the leaders of North Korea and the United States is not bad and said, "It would be good to seek other channels of contact based on new thinking." This suggests that while North Korea rejects negotiations aimed at denuclearization, it may be open to dialogue for other purposes.

As the United States continues to express its willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea, the possibility of a fourth meeting between President Trump and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un is being discussed. During his first term, President Trump held summits with Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June 2018 and in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019, and met at Panmunjom in June 2019. They also exchanged personal letters several times. Last month, when asked whether he had sent a letter to Chairman Kim, President Trump responded, "I get along with him very, very well," demonstrating his willingness to communicate with Kim.

Against this backdrop, there is speculation that President Trump and Chairman Kim may meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju this October. Previously, there were reports that the South Korean government was considering inviting Chairman Kim to the APEC summit.

However, spokesperson Bruce avoided further comment on the statement, saying, "For matters related to the relationship between the president and other (foreign) leaders, it would be better to contact the White House."

Additionally, spokesperson Bruce criticized the discussion on the "Israel-Palestine two-state solution" led by France and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, calling it "an unproductive and untimely meeting." Regarding concerns about the severe famine in the Gaza Strip, she said, "Our focus is on getting more aid into Gaza and achieving a ceasefire," and added, "That ceasefire has not been achieved so far because Hamas is refusing it."

Regarding the controversy over Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te canceling his visit to Central and South America via New York after President Trump denied permission, Bruce stated, "The issue of transit by high-ranking officials, including the Taiwanese president, is entirely consistent with the longstanding policy and practice of the United States," and emphasized, "The United States has long adhered to the 'One China' policy, and this policy has never changed."

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated through a spokesperson the previous day, "The Taiwanese president has no plans to travel overseas for the time being," and "The U.S. side has never denied permission for transit."