North Korea’s leader said there is “no reason” to avoid talks with the United States if Washington abandons its demand that Pyongyang disarm, but stressed he would “never” surrender his nuclear arsenal for sanctions relief. The remarks, delivered to the Supreme People’s Assembly, revive the prospect of US–North Korea engagement even as Pyongyang insists its deterrent is non-negotiable.

What Kim Said, Word for Word

Kim told lawmakers he “still” had “good memories” of Donald Trump and that if the US “gives up its absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality,” there is nothing to stop talks. He added, “There will never be, and will never ever be for eternity, any negotiations … out of some obsession with lifting sanctions,” describing sanctions as a “learning experience” that made the country more “resilient.”

No Give-Up on Nukes, Blame on Drills

Framing nuclear arms as a survival issue amid “serious threats” from the US and South Korea, Kim said the allies’ regular exercises had turned into “nuclear war drills.” He emphasised that Pyongyang would “never” abandon its arsenal and dismissed recent outreach from Washington and Seoul as insincere, saying basic intentions to weaken the North had not changed.

Seoul’s Bet on a Step-by-Step Track

South Korea’s president has argued pressure alone failed and proposed a phased process to cap and roll back Pyongyang’s programme over time. He has publicly warned the North is producing roughly 15–20 additional nuclear weapons per year and said an interim freeze could be a realistic first step to restart diplomacy.

Trump Factor Returns to the Fore

Kim’s comments land as speculation builds over a potential new Trump–Kim encounter. The US president has recently said he wants to meet Kim this year, reviving a channel that last collapsed in 2019. Analysts read Kim’s tone as an attempt to speak past Seoul and shape Washington’s terms before any renewed summitry.