North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he had “good memories” of US President Donald Trump, Yonhap quoted him as saying. The last time they met was in 2019.
Kim Jong-un expressed willingness to negotiate with Washington if it stops trying to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program.
“If the United States abandons its empty obsession with denuclearization and wants to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea, recognizing reality, we have no reason not to sit down at the negotiating table with the United States,” he said.
At the same time, the North Korean leader ruled out that Pyongyang would ever sit down at the negotiating table with Seoul, stressing that North Korea does not seek unification with South Korea.
In August, the head of the White House, during talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, said he expected to hold a meeting with Kim Jong-un before the end of this year.
“We’ll meet someday. I’m actually looking forward to it,” he said.
According to Trump, since the beginning of his second presidential term, the United States “has had no problems with the DPRK.” He described his relationship with the North Korean leader as still “very good.”
Lee, in turn, asked his American counterpart to “promote peace on the Korean peninsula.”
“I look forward to your meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un, the construction of Trump Tower in North Korea, and playing golf there. I am sure he will be waiting for you,” the South Korean leader said.