Kim Jong-Un’s sister slams US, dismisses chance for talks

Seoul: The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed prospects for an early resumption of diplomacy with the United States, saying that the US expectations of talks would “plunge them into a greater disappointment.”

Kim Yo Jong’s blunt statement indicates that the diplomatic impasse over North Korea’s nuclear program is likely to continue unless the North suffers greater pandemic-related economic difficulties and needs urgent outside assistance, some experts said.

Hope for a restart of nuclear talks flared briefly after Kim Jong-un said last week that his country must be ready for both dialogue and confrontation, though more for confrontation. US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan called Kim’s comments an “interesting signal.”

Kim Yo Jong derided Sullivan’s response.

“It seems that the US may interpret the situation in such a way as to seek comfort for itself,” the official Korean Central News Agency quoted her as saying. “The expectation, which they chose to harbor the wrong way, would plunge them into a greater disappointment.”

US-led diplomacy aimed at striping North Korea of its nuclear program has stalled since February 2019, when the Americans rejected a North Korean demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities during a summit between Kim and Trump.

Image courtesy of (Britannica)

Share this post