North Korea leader’s sister denies talks with ‘hostile’ US
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Kim Yo Jong denied any ongoing communication between Trump and her brother, stating she was 'completely unaware' of the talks Washington described, despite KCNA publishing her rebuttal Wednesday.
- Kim Yo Jong added that her ignorance was 'likely the only matter concerning our top leadership's foreign policy that I am unaware of' — a pointed jab at the US characterization.
- Trump claimed Monday he had been in touch with Kim Jong Un, who was 'very positive' in responding to a proposal for talks, and said Wednesday he was planning to meet the North Korean leader.
- Trump ordered the Pentagon to significantly scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, which hosts around 28,500 US troops, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
- Trump told reporters US soldiers were 'guarding you from Kim Jong Un, your next-door neighbour, and you're not going to help us on a very easy military operation in Iran,' expressing frustration at Seoul's refusal to contribute to the Iran war.
- Trump said he had convinced South Korea to pay $3bn a year during his first term and was planning to increase that amount.
- North Korea has expanded its missile and nuclear capabilities and sent tens of thousands of troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, despite Trump's years of courtship.
Why it matters: Kim Yo Jong's public denial directly contradicts Trump's claim of an active channel with Kim Jong Un, undermining the credibility of his diplomatic outreach. Simultaneously, Trump is scaling back US-South Korea military drills and demanding more payment from Seoul, even as North Korea sends troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.
Ask SkimNews
