North Korea has drawn a clear line in its diplomacy: it may be willing to talk to the United States, but it will “never talk to the South.” Pyongyang recently clarified this position by dismissing South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s denuclearisation plan as a “pipe dream.”
This hardline stance against Seoul, which it now calls its “main enemy,” came as Lee was hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lee’s primary request at the summit was for Xi to help bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has previously said he would be willing to talk to the U.S. if Washington drops its demands for denuclearisation. U.S. President Donald Trump offered such talks during his visit to Seoul this week, but Kim did not publicly respond.
At the Lee-Xi summit, both leaders acknowledged the reality of the situation, agreeing that dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea was the “most important” path forward.
President Xi, whose country is North Korea’s main ally, focused his public remarks on economic cooperation with South Korea, signing seven new agreements. Chinese state media did not report on any of the North Korea discussions.