Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to engaging in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "without any preconditions," a White House official stated, amidst ongoing speculation about a potential meeting during Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the official made these remarks in response to inquiries about the possibility of Trump resuming talks with Kim during his anticipated visit to South Korea for the APEC gathering. There were also questions about whether Trump is willing to engage with Kim without tying the discussions to the nuclear issue.
Earlier this month, Kim Jong-un expressed a willingness to resume talks with the United States, contingent upon Washington dropping its demand for North Korea's denuclearization. However, the Trump administration has reiterated its commitment to pursuing the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea.
The White House official highlighted Trump's previous efforts to stabilize the Korean Peninsula through three historic summits with Kim during his first term. The statement marks the first public acknowledgment by the Trump administration that there are no "preconditions" for resuming dialogue between Trump and Kim.
The mention of unchanged U.S. policy appears to allude to Washington's commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, though the official did not explicitly mention this goal. During a White House summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in August, Trump expressed hope for a meeting with Kim this year, fueling speculation about a potential dialogue during the APEC summit in Gyeongju from Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has expressed a desire to restart dialogue with Kim, potentially aiming for a peace deal and possibly a Nobel Peace Prize. Kim has also shown interest in reengaging with Trump, recalling their past interactions positively.
Trump's personal diplomacy with Kim during his first term included meetings in Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019, and at the inter-Korean border truce village of Panmunjom in June 2019. Despite reiterations of commitment to denuclearization by both Seoul and Washington, Pyongyang has rejected any negotiations on its nuclear program.
Recently, North Korean leader Kim reaffirmed the country's commitment to maintaining its nuclear forces as a priority, describing them as essential for national security, according to North Korean state media. During a U.N. General Assembly gathering, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong emphasized that the country would never abandon its nuclear program, viewing it as integral to its sovereignty and existence.