North Korea Says "No Need to Face the U.S."...Dismisses Possibility of North Korea-U.S. Talks (Summary)

Choe Son Hui, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Statement
"No Talks with the U.S. That Treats Dialogue as a Political Tool"
"We Have Already Drawn Up a Plan to Respond to the U.S.'s Long-Term Threat"

North Korea's Korean Central TV reported on the 3rd that Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, held the 14th Enlarged Political Bureau Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party the previous day to discuss the national emergency epidemic prevention measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Amid claims that a North Korea?U.S. summit might be held ahead of the U.S. presidential election this November, North Korea dismissed the possibility through a statement by Choe Son-hui, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In the statement released that day, Choe said, "There is no need to sit down with the United States, which regards the North Korea?U.S. dialogue merely as a tool to handle their political crisis," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

This clearly expressed the futility of a summit in response to forecasts from South Korea and the U.S. that President Donald Trump might play the North Korea?U.S. summit card as an 'October Surprise' ahead of the November U.S. election.

Choe stated, "I cannot help but be astonished at the publicizing of summit talks rumors that ignore the current state of North Korea?U.S. relations at such a sensitive time when even minor misjudgments or missteps could cause fatal and irreversible consequences."

She particularly emphasized that "Our country's policies will not be adjusted or changed according to external variables such as anyone's domestic political schedule," indicating no intention to engage in a North Korea?U.S. summit as an 'event' for President Trump's re-election campaign.

She added, "Can dialogue or negotiations really be established with the United States, which persistently clings to hostile policies against the DPRK without regard for the summit agreements already achieved?" and "It is obvious without even meeting what kind of tricks the United States, which has no determination to redraw the board with us, would bring."

Choe warned, "If the United States still thinks it can shake us with something like negotiations, it is a miscalculation," and revealed, "We have already laid out a more concrete strategic calculation to manage the United States' long-term threat."

She also appeared to target the South Korean government, which has shown willingness to push for a third North Korea?U.S. summit, saying, "There are people who hastily express intentions to mediate without any consideration of how the parties involved think."

Given North Korea’s clear rejection of North Korea?U.S. dialogue, assessments suggest that resuming talks will be difficult regardless of some expectations.

Im Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, noted, "It is important to recognize that North Korea is sending consistent messages regarding its U.S. policy," adding, "It is a reasonable forecast that unless the United States presents a bold denuclearization negotiation plan capable of leading North Korea, whether it be a North Korea?U.S. summit or denuclearization working-level talks, resumption will be difficult."

Jung Dae-jin, a professor at Ajou University, interpreted, "The fact that Choe Son-hui, who acts as Chairman Kim Jong-un’s spokesperson in North Korea?U.S. dialogue, issued a statement rejecting dialogue confirms Kim’s refusal of a North Korea?U.S. summit at this time."

Professor Jung added, "Currently, conditions for North Korea and the U.S. to sit down are not in place, and even if North Korea?U.S. dialogue is restored in the future, Chairman Kim is likely to repeatedly express refusal to raise the bargaining price."

However, some evaluations suggest that Choe moderated the tone of the message toward the U.S. government and President Trump by not making harsh or provocative criticisms in this statement.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, explained, "This could be part of pressure on the U.S. to see how seriously the Trump administration will prepare for negotiations going forward," adding, "By revealing plans to threaten the U.S. long-term and forecasting military actions for provocations against the South and pressure on the U.S. in the second half of the year, North Korea is maximizing its negotiating power in preparation for the future."

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