The acting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Seth Bailey, noted that a recent statement by Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers’ Party of Korea, hinted at the possibility of dialogue with the U.S. on matters other than denuclearization.
In a speech in Arlington, Virginia, Bailey stated that they were paying close attention to the high-level statement from Kim Yo-jong. Previously, Kim had declared on July 29th that North Korea should be recognized as an “irreversible nuclear state” but suggested that the U.S. should explore different avenues for contact based on this new perspective. This statement was interpreted as suggesting the possibility of dialogue on topics such as nuclear arms reduction or managing military conflict risks, excluding denuclearization negotiations, if the U.S. recognizes North Korea’s nuclear status and the changed geopolitical realities.
Bailey commented on South Korea’s approach to North Korea, highlighting that the new government is taking meaningful steps to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and showing a willingness to engage with North Korea. He praised both President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump for their committed stance on diplomacy with North Korea.
In the context of a briefing on the repatriation of Korean War veterans’ remains, Bailey emphasized that the U.S. considers the repatriation of remains a top priority between the two countries, a key part of the 2018 joint statement from the Singapore summit between the U.S. and North Korea. He reiterated the U.S.’s dedication to the principles outlined in the joint statement, noting President Trump’s clear willingness to engage in negotiations with North Korea since the beginning of his second term.
The Singapore summit between the U.S. and North Korea focused on four key items in their joint statement: establishing a new U.S.-North Korea relationship, building a peaceful regime on the Korean Peninsula, efforts toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and recovering the remains of prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Bailey also remarked on the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement reached on July 30th, stating that it demonstrated a shared commitment to modernizing and strengthening the alliance between the two countries. He concluded by expressing the U.S.’s interest in resolving economic and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region as an Indo-Pacific nation, and its dedication to enhancing Northeast Asian security by deterring and responding to North Korean provocations using all available means.