Pyongyang – Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has sharply criticized U.S.-led efforts to denuclearize the isolated nation, labeling the idea a “daydream that can never come true.” Her comments, published Wednesday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), come in response to a joint statement issued last week by the top diplomats of the United States, South Korea, and Japan during a NATO meeting. The statement reaffirmed their “resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization” of North Korea, a goal that has long eluded international negotiators.
In her fiery statement, Kim Yo Jong dismissed the notion of North Korea relinquishing its nuclear arsenal as “nothing but a daydream,” arguing that such demands represent a direct assault on the country’s sovereignty. “If anyone openly talks about dismantling nuclear weapons… it just constitutes the most hostile act of denying the sovereignty of the DPRK,” she declared, using the official name for North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. She further accused the U.S., Japan, and South Korea—referred to by its official name, the Republic of Korea (ROK)—of revealing their “uneasiness” and desperation by repeatedly raising the issue of denuclearization.
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This marks Kim Yo Jong’s second public statement in just over a month, underscoring her growing role in shaping North Korea’s foreign policy rhetoric. In early March, she condemned the U.S. after a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier visited the South Korean port of Busan, accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of perpetuating a “hostile policy” inherited from its predecessors. Trump, who made history in 2018 as the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader during denuclearization talks with Kim Jong Un, has since referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power” in his second term, which began in January 2025. Tensions continue to simmer as diplomatic efforts falter.
Key Points:
- Kim Yo Jong’s Statement: Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, called U.S.-led efforts to denuclearize North Korea a “daydream that can never come true.”
- Response to NATO Meeting: Her remarks follow a joint statement by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan at a NATO meeting, reaffirming their commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization.
- Sovereignty Concerns: Kim Yo Jong stated that discussing the dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear weapons is a “hostile act” that denies the country’s sovereignty.
- Criticism of U.S., Japan, and South Korea: She accused the U.S., Japan, and South Korea of desperation and unease in their repeated calls for denuclearization.
- Second Statement in a Month: This is Kim Yo Jong’s second public statement in over a month, following her March condemnation of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier visit to Busan, South Korea.
- U.S.-North Korea History: During his first term, President Trump met Kim Jong Un in 2018 to discuss denuclearization, a historic first for a sitting U.S. president.
- Trump’s Current Stance: Since starting his second term in January 2025, Trump has referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power,” signaling a shift in tone.
