North Korea: "Hopes for Dialogue with the US Are Foolish... We Will Follow Our Own Path" (2nd Report)

Kim Kye Gwan, Advisor to North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Statement
"Received President Trump's Personal Letter Directly"
Targeting Chung Eui Yong, "Don't Get Ahead of Yourself"

Kim Kye-gwan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea

Kim Kye-gwan, advisor to North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement on the 11th, calling the expectation that they would engage in dialogue with the United States a "foolish idea." He emphasized that while North Korea-U.S. talks could happen if the U.S. fully accepted their demands, since the U.S. is unlikely to do so, they will "go their own way."

On the same day, Kim said, "As the whole world acknowledges, it is true that the personal relationship between our Chairman Kim Jong-un and President Trump is not bad," but added, "However, to have expectations that we might return to talks with the U.S. based on such a personal relationship, or to try to create such an atmosphere by scheming, is a foolish idea."

He acknowledged that there is a personal friendship between the North Korea and U.S. leaders, but stated that such private ties would not influence state affairs.

He said, "Even if Chairman Kim Jong-un personally has good feelings toward President Trump, those must remain purely 'personal' feelings. As the Chairman representing our country and advocating for national interests, he would not discuss state affairs based on such private emotions."

He added, "What is clear is that we will never again be deceived by the U.S. and waste time as in the past," referring to the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit in February last year.

He said, "Negotiations like those in Vietnam, where we proposed to ease some UN sanctions and completely replace the country's core nuclear facilities to alleviate the suffering of peaceful people even a little, will never happen again," emphasizing, "We have no need to attend talks where we are unilaterally coerced, nor do we have any desire to barter like merchants at the negotiation table."

Kim stated, "For dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. to be reestablished, it can only happen under the condition that the U.S. fully accepts the demands we have presented, but we know well that the U.S. is neither prepared nor able to do so."

He concluded by stressing, "We know the path we must take, and we will go our own way."

Jeong Eui-yong, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, who visited the White House for high-level security consultations among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, is answering reporters' questions after returning through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 10th.

◆North Korea: "Directly Received Trump's Letter... South Korea Should Not Get Carried Away"

In the statement, Kim also revealed that he personally received a letter from President Trump containing birthday greetings for Chairman Kim. He then criticized South Korea for interfering between North Korea and the U.S.

Kim said, "The South Korean authorities, breathlessly excited and trembling all over, sent an urgent notification claiming it was the U.S. President's birthday greeting, but we have directly received it as a letter from the U.S. President."

On the previous day, Chung Eui-yong, director of South Korea's National Security Office, met with reporters at Incheon International Airport after returning from a visit to the U.S. on the 10th, and revealed that he had met with President Trump. He said, "President Trump spoke kindly about Chairman Kim's birthday and requested that President Moon deliver a message to Chairman Kim."

Kim dismissed this as "getting carried away," warning South Korea not to harbor illusions about playing the role of mediator between North Korea and the U.S. any longer.

Kim said, "It seems the South Korean authorities still do not know that there is a special communication channel between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S.," and claimed, "From the beginning of the new year, the South Korean authorities have been getting carried away, urgently delivering the U.S. President's birthday greetings to our Chairman."

He continued, "South Korea, which is not even from the same family, made a fuss about delivering the U.S. President's congratulations to our Chairman, and it seems they still harbor illusions about playing the role of 'mediator' in North Korea-U.S. relations."

Kim stated, "It is natural in diplomacy for leaders to develop personal relationships, but South Korea foolishly interfering in the personal relationship between Chairman Kim Jong-un and President Trump is somewhat presumptuous."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.