‘Mutual Ignorance’ in North America... Choe Son-hui: "Will Continue Ignoring If Hostile Policy Is Not Withdrawn"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea stated that it will continue to ignore contact attempts unless the United States withdraws its hostile policy. The U.S. also clearly stated that it will not respond at all to North Korea's increasingly tough messages. Since the inauguration of the new U.S. administration, it is interpreted that both North Korea and the U.S. are having a probing period through a ‘mutual ignoring’ strategy.

Choe Son-hui, First Vice Minister of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement on the 18th, "Unless the U.S. hostile policy toward North Korea is withdrawn, no contact or dialogue between the two Koreas (North Korea and the U.S.) can take place, and we will continue to ignore any contact attempts by the U.S."

Choe’s statement came two days after Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, issued warnings toward South Korea and the U.S. It appears to be an attempt to pressure the U.S. for a change in attitude ahead of the South Korea-U.S. foreign and defense ministers (2+2) meeting. Choe warned, "For dialogue itself to take place, an atmosphere must be created where both sides can sit face-to-face on equal footing and exchange words," adding, "If they look forward to sitting down with us even once, they must first correct their bad habits and change their attitude from the start." She also hinted at the possibility of provocations, saying, "The U.S. should carefully consider what we will do as they continue to pursue their hostile policy toward North Korea." Furthermore, she said, "The U.S. Secretary of State, who visited Japan, provoked us seriously by saying that ‘various pressure measures or stubborn methods are all under reconsideration,’ and now that he has come to South Korea, I am curious what kind of outrageous nonsense that will surprise the world he will spout," implying a desire not to provoke North Korea during the South Korea-U.S. 2+2 talks.

The U.S. side is maintaining a cautious stance toward North Korea’s verbal provocations timed with the first meeting at the government level between South Korea and the U.S. Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki avoided a direct response to Kim Yo-jong’s warning statement, saying, "Our immediate focus is coordinating with partners and allies on various issues, including security on the Korean Peninsula."

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