1 week ago
North Korea Rejects Trump Claim of New Kim Communication
Donald Trump said Kim Jong Un had answered his request to talk.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said she did not know about any such communication.
She said Trump and Kim still have a good personal relationship.
However, she said the United States remains hostile toward North Korea.
Trump also ordered fewer US military exercises with South Korea.
He said the exercises were expensive and sent the wrong signal to North Korea.
Kim Yo Jong said North Korea was not interested in the reduction.
She said the exercises were still aggressive and provocative.
Trump said he wants to meet Kim again later this year.
Kim Yo Jong said she was unaware of any recent direct communication between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.
She said the two leaders still have an excellent personal relationship, but called US policy toward North Korea hostile.
Donald Trump said Kim had responded to requests for a conversation and that he hoped to meet him later this year.
Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce upcoming US-South Korea military exercises.
Kim Yo Jong said North Korea considered the drills provocative despite any reduction in their scale or duration.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister and senior North Korean official.
- What
- North Korea questioned Trump’s claim that Kim had responded to a request for talks and criticized the continued US-South Korea military exercises.
- Where
- The statement was carried by North Korean state media, including KCNA; the military exercises involve the United States and South Korea.
- When
- Kim Yo Jong’s statement was issued on Wednesday; Trump made his communication claim on Monday and announced the drill reduction on Sunday.
- Why
- Trump said reducing the exercises would avoid an inappropriate signal to North Korea, while Kim Yo Jong said US policy and military activities remained hostile.
US Position
North Korean Position
Recent communication
US Position
Trump said Kim Jong Un responded to his requests for a conversation and said he hoped to meet Kim later this year.
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong said she was completely unaware of any communication between her brother and Trump.
Relationship between the leaders
US Position
Trump has repeatedly described his relationship with Kim as very good and cited it when discussing policy toward North Korea.
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong acknowledged that the leaders have an excellent relationship and that Kim has good memories and feelings about Trump.
Military exercises
US Position
Trump ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korea exercises, saying they were costly and sent an inappropriate or hostile signal to North Korea.
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong said North Korea was uninterested in the reduction because the exercises remained provocative and aggressive.
US policy toward North Korea
US Position
Trump’s statements presented reduced military exercises and possible talks as signs of engagement with North Korea.
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong said US hostile policies toward North Korea had not changed and that Washington and its followers continued hostile military activities.
Key facts
- North Korean response
- Kim Yo Jong said she was completely unaware of any recent communication between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.
- Trump’s claim
- Trump said Kim Jong Un had responded to requests for the two leaders to speak.
- Planned meeting
- Trump said he intended to meet Kim later this year but gave no details.
- Military drills
- Trump instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint US-South Korea military exercises.
- North Korean assessment
- Kim Yo Jong said reducing the drills’ scale or duration did not change their provocative and aggressive nature.
- Past meetings
- Trump met Kim Jong Un three times during his first term, without producing a diplomatic breakthrough.
Quotes
Donald Trump
US President
“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea.”
livemint.com
“I am not aware of it at all, and perhaps it may be the only thing I do not know as regards the foreign policy of our supreme leadership.”
livemint.com
Sources
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