U.S. Cites 'Kim Yo-jong Statement,' Says Trump Willing to Negotiate with North Korea

Seth Bailey, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs,
"Closely Monitoring Kim Yojong's Statement on Possible Dialogue"
United States Open to Talks Excluding Denuclearization
Emphasis on Strengthening the U.S.-Korea Alliance and Regional Security

A U.S. State Department official stated that the department is paying attention to a recent statement by Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, in which she suggested the possibility of dialogue with the United States on issues other than denuclearization.

Yonhap News Agency

Speaking at an event in Arlington, Virginia, on the 7th (local time), Seth Bailey, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said, "Among the high-level statements from North Korea's leadership, we are closely watching Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong's remarks."

Previously, in a statement on July 29, Kim said that the United States should recognize North Korea's "irreversible status as a nuclear-armed state." However, she also suggested that the United States "seek new avenues of contact based on such new thinking." This was interpreted to mean that if the United States acknowledges North Korea's nuclear status and the changed geopolitical reality, dialogue could be possible on issues such as nuclear arms reduction or managing the risk of military conflict, while excluding denuclearization negotiations.

In relation to this, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Bailey commented on the South Korean government's approach to North Korea, saying, "The new administration has taken meaningful steps to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and has demonstrated a willingness to engage with North Korea." He also assessed that both President Lee Jaemyung and U.S. President Donald Trump have shown a committed stance toward diplomacy with North Korea.

While explaining the repatriation of Korean War veterans' remains, which was the main topic of the briefing, he said, "The United States has regarded the repatriation of remains as a top priority between the two countries, and this was a key item included in the joint statement at the June 2018 North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore." He added, "We remain committed to the principles outlined in the joint statement. President Trump has also made it clear since the start of his second term that he is willing to engage in negotiations with North Korea."

At the Singapore North Korea-U.S. summit, North Korea and the United States issued a joint statement centered on four main points: establishing a new relationship between the two countries, building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, working toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and recovering the remains of prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Meanwhile, regarding the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement reached on the 30th of last month, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Bailey said, "It demonstrated that both countries share a commitment to modernizing and strengthening the U.S.-Korea alliance." He added, "As an Indo-Pacific nation, the United States is interested in addressing economic and security challenges in the region, and we are committed to strengthening security in Northeast Asia by using all available means to deter and respond to North Korea's provocations."