North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has stated that his “fond memories” of former US President Donald Trump remain fresh. He has indicated that he remains open to future talks with the United States, provided that he is allowed to maintain his nuclear arsenal.
Kim and Trump held three high-level summits during Trump’s first term. However, the final talks in Hanoi in 2019 failed as no agreement could be reached on what concessions Pyongyang would make regarding its nuclear program. For years, the US has demanded complete denuclearization. This remains the central sticking point between the two countries.
Meanwhile, under strict UN sanctions, North Korea has continued to advance its nuclear and missile programs. “If the US abandons its illusion of denuclearization, accepts the reality, and desires peaceful coexistence, we are prepared,” Kim said in a detailed speech to the parliament. “I still hold fond memories of President Trump.”
However, he made it clear that North Korea would never give up its nuclear weapons. “The world knows what happens to countries that are forced to abandon their nuclear weapons by the US. We will never give up ours.” Kim claimed that the sanctions have, in fact, helped North Korea become stronger and more self-reliant.
Regarding relations with South Korea, he used harsh language, stating, “We have no reason to coexist with them,” and rejected any form of cooperation. North Korea has recently declared South Korea its “principal enemy,” severed rail and road links connecting the two, and intensified its rhetoric.
Close Ties with Russia
Analysts suggest Kim has been emboldened since the Ukraine war. By sending thousands of soldiers and supplying large quantities of weapons to Moscow, North Korea has gained significant security assistance from Russia. During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang last year, the two countries signed a mutual defense pact. Seoul has repeatedly warned of the increasing risk that Russia will transfer sensitive military technology to North Korea.
APEC Summit and a Potential Surprise
Trump is expected to visit South Korea for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next month. Experts believe Kim’s comments are targeted at this visit. “This remark hints at the possibility of an unexpected summit meeting and also prods Trump’s desire for a Nobel Prize,” said Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University in South Korea. According to former official Yang Moo-jin, Kim’s lengthy speech reflected both confidence and frustration. While aimed at foreign powers, its core message was also to maintain internal stability.
