North Korean leader’s sister denies talks with “hostile” US
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has denied reports of ongoing communication between her brother and US President Donald Trump, saying she is unaware of any talks between the two leaders.
Her statement came after Trump claimed that he had recently been in contact with Kim and that the North Korean leader had responded positively to his proposal for talks. Trump later said he planned to meet Kim and described their relationship as respectful.
Kim Yo Jong maintained that Washington continues to pursue a hostile policy toward North Korea, casting doubt on the progress suggested by Trump.
The claims come as Trump has sharply criticized South Korea over its reluctance to support the US military campaign against Iran. He recently ordered a significant reduction in joint US-South Korean military exercises, despite around 28,500 US troops remaining stationed in South Korea.
Trump has repeatedly questioned the value of long-standing US military alliances and demanded greater contributions from allies.
His relationship with Kim has previously shifted from threats of military confrontation to direct diplomacy. Trump and Kim held historic meetings in Singapore in 2018 and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone in 2019, but negotiations failed to produce a lasting agreement on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
Since then, North Korea has continued expanding its missile and nuclear capabilities while deepening military ties with Russia, including sending troops to support Moscow in the Ukraine war.
