Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Tuesday sharply dismissed US efforts to revive nuclear diplomacy, declaring that North Korea will never negotiate its status as a nuclear weapons state. Her statement, reported by state media, rejected any US attempt to deny the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear capabilities, which she said are enshrined in its constitution and backed by its people.

Responding to a Yonhap report citing a US White House official’s claim that President Donald Trump remains open to talks for North Korea’s complete denuclearization, Kim Yo Jong emphasized that “2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019.” While acknowledging her brother’s “not bad” personal rapport with Trump, she called any push for denuclearization through their relationship a “mockery.” She warned that the US must accept North Korea’s nuclear reality, or talks will remain a one-sided “hope.”

The 2018-19 Trump-Kim summits collapsed over disagreements on sanctions relief for partial denuclearization. Since then, North Korea has intensified weapons tests to bolster its nuclear arsenal. Kim Yo Jong’s remarks suggest only limited disarmament talks, tied to sanctions relief, might be considered.

On Monday, she also dismissed South Korea’s new liberal government’s outreach, accusing it of hostility and blind trust in the US, signaling North Korea’s focus on strengthening ties with Russia over resuming diplomacy with Seoul or Washington.

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