Kim Yo-jong stated that she was unaware of any contact between Kim Jong-un and Trump
Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said she knew nothing about the recent communication between him and U.S. President Donald Trump. At the same time, the high-ranking official of the Workers’ Party of Korea did not directly deny that such contact could have taken place, according to the Korea Herald.
The North Korean state news agency KCNA released Kim Yo-jong’s statement in Korean on Wednesday evening. She cast doubt on Trump’s earlier remarks that Kim Jong-un had responded to his proposal for dialogue. The U.S. president had earlier told reporters at the White House that he had received a response and described the interaction between the two sides as “very positive,” though he did not specify when or how they had communicated.
Kim Yo-jong stated that her brother harbors positive personal memories and feelings toward Trump, and that relations between the two leaders remain good. At the same time, she distinguished the leaders’ personal relationship from Washington’s broader policy toward Pyongyang.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
Kim Yo-jong also criticized Trump’s statement regarding a significant reduction in joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises. According to her, reducing the scale or duration of the exercises does not change the fact that Pyongyang considers them hostile. She emphasized that North Korea is paying close attention to the continuation of exercises throughout the year, particularly Freedom Shield and Freedom Flag.
Trump attributed the reduction in the exercises to their cost, as well as to a message to Pyongyang, which he called “inappropriate and hostile.” He also cited his good relations with Kim Jong Un. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has instructed his aides to arrange a new face-to-face meeting with the North Korean leader as early as this fall, potentially during his expected November trip to China for the APEC summit in Shenzhen.
In her statement, Kim Yo-jong also dismissed as baseless Ukraine’s claims that North Korea was preparing to send additional troops to Russia—the aggressor state. She reiterated Pyongyang’s support for Moscow and affirmed the DPRK’s commitment under the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.
