White House: "Biden Will Not Meet Kim Jong-un"

It Seems Positions Were Mainly Decided Through Working-Level Talks Ahead of Finalizing North Korea Policy Review

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House in the United States has stated that President Joe Biden has no intention of meeting Kim Jong-un, Chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission. This is interpreted as indicating that the Biden administration's review of North Korea policy is focusing on working-level negotiations rather than a summit meeting between leaders.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a regular briefing on the 29th (local time) in response to a question asking, "Does the diplomacy with North Korea that President Biden mentioned being ready for include meeting with Chairman Kim?" she replied, "I think his approach will be quite different," and added, "And that is not his intention."

At his first official press conference since taking office on the 25th, President Biden pointed out that North Korea's ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions, but also mentioned that diplomatic solutions with North Korea are being prepared.

During last year's presidential candidate TV debate, President Biden criticized the North Korea-US summit for only legitimizing Chairman Kim and said he would not meet Kim Jong-un unconditionally.

President Biden has repeatedly expressed that while denuclearization of North Korea is an urgent task, he intends to delegate authority to diplomats.

Earlier, Press Secretary Psaki stated that the Biden administration's review of North Korea policy is in its final stages. In this regard, the White House plans to invite security chiefs from South Korea and Japan to Washington this week for final coordination on North Korea policy.

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