Kim Yo Jong: Kim-Trump Ties ‘Not Bad,’ But No Denuclearization Talks

News Summary

Kim Yo Jong said Tuesday that the personal relationship between Kim Jong Un and President Trump is "not bad," but firmly ruled out any talks on denuclearization.

She stated, “If the personal relations between the top leaders of the DPRK and the U.S. are to serve the purpose of denuclearization, it can be interpreted as nothing but a mockery of the other party.” 

Reaffirming North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state, she warned that any attempt to deny this reality would be “thoroughly rejected” and urged both sides to avoid further confrontation.

Commentary

Kim Yo Jong’s statement makes two things unmistakably clear: First, the Kim regime will not give up its nuclear weapons whatsoever. Second, any future summit or negotiation with the United States hinges on one critical precondition—Washington must acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear state.

This leads to a pivotal question: Will President Trump acknowledge North Korea’s nuclear status?

Some may argue that he might—driven by a desire to secure a foreign policy win and deflect attention from domestic turmoil. But if Trump and his administration understand the true nature and long-term intent of the Kim regime, they should realize they must not—and cannot.

Acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear state would set off a dangerous chain reaction. The Kim regime would inevitably demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Korean Peninsula, leaving South Korea vulnerable and increasingly drawn into the strategic orbit of China, Russia, and North Korea.

Even if North Korea doesn’t directly threaten the U.S. homeland, it is likely to export military technology to anti-American regimes, further destabilizing regions already on edge.

In short, no matter the political calculus, a U.S. acknowledgment of North Korea’s nuclear status would be both strategically reckless and globally destabilizing—and the Trump administration can never accept it.