North Korea has ‘no need’ to resume talks

>>SEOUL: North Korea does “not feel any need” to resume talks with Washington, a senior diplomat for the country said yesterday, days after Seoul called for a summit as it seeks improved ties with Pyongyang.

The statement by the North’s vice foreign minister Choe Son-hui came after former US national security adviser John Bolton on Thursday reportedly said President Donald Trump might pursue another meeting with leader Kim Jong-un in October.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in — who has backed engagement with the North — on Tuesday also called for a meeting between Mr Kim and Mr Trump, saying the South would be making “efforts” to make it happen.

But Pyongyang does “not feel any need to sit face to face with the US”, Mr Choe said, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.

“Dreamers” had been raising hopes of an “October surprise”, she added.

“The US is mistaken if it thinks things like negotiations would still work on us,” Mr Choe said.

Washington “does not consider the DPRK-US dialogue as nothing more than a tool for grappling (with) its political crisis”, Mr Choe added, using the North’s official name.

Mr Bolton had reportedly said Mr Trump would meet with Mr Kim if it would help his re-election chances.

The North has “already worked out a detailed strategic timetable” to deal with the “long-term threat” from Washington, Mr Choe said.

Talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal have been stalled since a Hanoi summit between Mr Trump and Mr Kim collapsed in early 2019 over what the North would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief.

Recent reports have said US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun is due to visit Seoul this week to discuss talks with North Korea, although the South’s foreign ministry has not confirmed the trip.