North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has declared that his country will never give up its nuclear weapons, though he expressed conditional openness to renewed dialogue with the United States.
Speaking at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, Kim said Washington must first abandon its demand for denuclearization if it truly seeks talks. His remarks were carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday.
Kim noted that he still holds positive memories of former U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that if the U.S. accepts North Korea’s nuclear status and pursues genuine peaceful coexistence, Pyongyang would have no reason to avoid future discussions.
At the same time, he stressed that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is non-negotiable and warned that sanctions or military pressure will never weaken the regime.
On regional relations, Kim dismissed the prospect of engagement with South Korea, reiterating his “two hostile states” doctrine and rejecting any path toward unification.
