Politics

Kim Jong-un’s sister warns US about ‘wrong’ dialog expectations

Seoul, Jun 22 (EFE).- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister warned the United States on Tuesday against having “wrong” expectations of dialog with Pyongyang after Washington once again extended its hand to talks with the regime.

Kim Yo-jong’s remarks came after US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan described Kim Jong-un’s recent call to be prepared “for both dialog and confrontation” with the United States as an “interesting signal.”

“It seems that the US may interpret the situation in such a way as to seek a comfort for itself,” said the dictator’s sister, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.

“The expectation, which they chose to harbor the wrong way, would plunge them into a greater disappointment,” she added.

Kim Yo-jong, who is the deputy director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the ruling Workers’ Party, thus, toughened the regime’s rhetoric towards the US after her brother declared last week that the country must prepare “for both dialog and confrontation” with Washington.

It was the first time that Kim had shown his willingness to talk with the US since President Joe Biden took office earlier this year.

The new US administration strategy on North Korea is an alternative to the all or nothing policy of former President Donald Trump and the policy of strategic patience of his predecessor, Barack Obama, opting instead for a middle path that pursues diplomatic dialog in phases and seeks to restart denuclearization talks stalled since 2019.

The latest message from the North Korean regime coincides with the visit to South Korea of ??the US special envoy for the North, Sung Kim, to meet with his counterparts in Seoul and Japan and discuss a possible return to the negotiating table with Pyongyang.

“We continue to hope that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will respond positively to our approach and our offer to meet anywhere and anytime without preconditions,” Sung Kim said on Monday after a three-way meeting in Seoul with South Korean top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk, and the director-general of the Japanese foreign ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Takehiro Funakoshi.

It remains to be seen what the real position of the regime will be on potential negotiations on nuclear disarmament at a time when the country is facing a severe shortage of food and medicine due to the impact of international sanctions, poor harvests, and the isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The US envoy is scheduled to hold a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and other senior officials of his government on Tuesday. EFE

co-ahg/pd/lds

Related Articles

Back to top button