On September 22, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said there was no reason to avoid dialogue with the US if Washington abandoned Pyongyang's request for nuclear withdrawal. However, he insists he will never store nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting sanctions.
In his speech at the Supreme People's Council, Kim Jong-un recalled "good memories" with US President Donald Trump, who met him three times during his previous term. He emphasized that if the US accepts reality and wishes to live together peacefully, North Korea is ready to sit at the dialogue table.
However, Mr. Kim Jong-un affirmed that nuclear development is a vital issue to deal with the threat from the US and South Korea, which he said regularly conduct drills of the nature of "preparing for nuclear war".
Mr. Kim Jong-un accused the recent proposals from Washington and Seoul of being just a form, because the real goal is still to weaken Pyongyang. He criticized South Korea's gradual plan to end North Korea's nuclear program as evidence of that. He emphasized: We will never give up nuclear weapons. There is no and never will be negotiations to exchange them in exchange for sanctions lifting."
According to Mr. Kim Jong-un, the United Nations sanctions over the years have become a "learning experience", making the country stronger and more resilient, while still making progress in the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said that sanctions have failed to deter North Korea, which adds 15 to 20 more nuclear warheads each year.
Mr. Lee Jae-Myung affirmed that the old approach did not solve the problem but only made the situation worse. He proposed a dialogue, emphasizing the need to gradually build trust towards ending Pyongyang's nuclear program, and said that Mr. Trump could play an important role in this effort.
