North Korea has stated that it is not concerned about being excluded from the list of countries banned from entering the United States, as announced recently by the U.S. The North Korean response, communicated through an article authored by an international affairs critic for the state-run Korean Central News Agency, emphasized that the decision by the current U.S. administration to allow entry for North Koreans is not seen as a “gift” by Pyongyang.
This announcement comes after interpretations that the U.S.’s exclusion of North Korea from the list of banned countries might be a sign of a conciliatory approach, leaving the door open for dialogue with North Korea. The critic highlighted that whether the exclusion was a technical or political decision, it does not interest North Korea, and they have no reason to celebrate it.
Moreover, the critic noted that North Korea will not assess U.S. actions based on hopeful observations or subjective interpretations, but will rely on its sovereign judgment. Although the piece does not represent an official stance from the North Korean government, it suggests no willingness to engage with the U.S. at this time, irrespective of the U.S.’s intentions.
There are speculations that there might have been behind-the-scenes contact between the U.S. and North Korea, which the latter rejected. This is partly based on U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing expressions of willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, given the ongoing negotiations among the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, North Korea may regard any separate contact with the U.S. as lacking practical benefits and continues to prioritize strengthening ties with Russia as a critical national strategy.
The U.S. had recently announced a proclamation restricting entry into the country from 19 nations due to national security and public safety concerns. Notably, North Korea and Russia were not included on this list.