North Korea Warns United States Against Pursuing Denuclearisation

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a firm warning to the United States on Tuesday, cautioning against renewed efforts to pursue denuclearisation in any future dialogue.

Kim Yo Jong, in a statement disseminated by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said:

“Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state… will be thoroughly rejected.”

She referred to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the official name for North Korea, asserting its status as a nuclear-armed nation.

While acknowledging the “not bad” personal relationship between her brother, Kim Jong Un, and former US President Donald Trump, she cautioned against using that rapport as leverage to push for denuclearisation.

“That relationship should not be used to serve the purpose of denuclearisation in future talks,” she said.

Background: US–North Korea Diplomacy

During his presidency, Trump met with Kim Jong Un three times in a historic attempt to negotiate the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. However, the second summit in Hanoi in 2019 collapsed without agreement, primarily due to disagreements over what concessions North Korea would receive in return for scaling back its nuclear activities.

Since then, North Korea has significantly expanded its nuclear weapons programme.

Recent Comments and North Korea’s Response

Kim Yo Jong’s remarks appeared to be a response to an unnamed White House official, quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, who stated that Trump remained open to discussions with the DPRK leader aimed at “complete denuclearisation”.

She referenced this indirectly:

“Shortly ago, a person in authority of the White House said… that he (Trump) is still open to dialogue with the DPRK leader for achieving the complete denuclearisation of the DPRK.”

While she did not dismiss the personal rapport between the two leaders, Kim Yo Jong issued a pointed caution:

“If it [the relationship] is used for that purpose, it can be interpreted as nothing but a mockery of the other party.”

She reiterated Pyongyang’s demand for the United States to formally recognise North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

Looking Forward

Trump has consistently spoken positively of his relationship with Kim Jong Un, describing it as “great” and indicating interest in reengaging in dialogue with North Korea. However, North Korea’s stance remains clear: its nuclear status is non-negotiable, and future talks must reflect that reality.